UNESCO and LG AI Research have launched a free global online course on the ethics of artificial intelligence, aiming to equip developers, policymakers, researchers and professionals with practical skills to design, deploy and govern AI responsibly. The Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), titled Empowering Minds: Transforming Lives, was unveiled at the Ethics by Design: Industry and Innovation Conference in Seoul and is now available globally through Coursera.
The initiative builds on UNESCO's Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, adopted unanimously by the organisation's 193 Member States in 2021. Recognised as the world's first global normative framework on AI ethics, the recommendation outlines principles for ensuring that AI systems are developed in ways that uphold human rights, transparency, fairness and accountability. The new course is designed to translate those principles into practical knowledge that can be applied across the AI lifecycle.
Speaking at the launch, UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany said ethical AI requires more than principles alone and depends on the people responsible for building and governing AI systems. He noted that the programme is intended to help learners move from broad commitments to practical implementation by embedding ethical considerations into everyday AI development and deployment.
The course has been co-developed by UNESCO and LG AI Research and is structured into ten modules covering topics such as fairness and inclusion, privacy and data governance, transparency, accountability, safety, security, environmental sustainability and global AI governance. It also includes practical case studies, decision-making frameworks and reflective exercises intended to help participants address real-world ethical challenges when working with AI technologies.
According to UNESCO, the programme is designed for a broad audience that includes software developers, engineers, researchers, government officials, business leaders, students and anyone whose work involves artificial intelligence. Delivered primarily in English, the course offers translation options in 11 languages to support wider global participation and accessibility. Learners who complete the programme will also be eligible for certification through Coursera.
LG AI Research described the initiative as an effort to bridge the gap between AI ethics principles and practical implementation. The company said organisations increasingly need professionals who can integrate ethical considerations throughout product development rather than treating responsible AI as a compliance exercise after systems have already been built. The curriculum was developed with contributions from an international advisory group and AI experts representing academia, industry and multilateral organisations to ensure global relevance.
The launch reflects growing international attention on AI governance as governments and technology companies seek to balance innovation with safeguards around privacy, bias, transparency and accountability. As generative AI adoption accelerates across sectors, demand has also increased for workforce training focused on responsible AI practices and regulatory compliance. UNESCO has positioned the course as a global public good intended to strengthen AI literacy while supporting ethical decision-making across industries.
The programme also highlights an expanding model of collaboration between international organisations, technology companies and education platforms to address emerging challenges in AI. By combining UNESCO's global policy framework, LG AI Research's technical expertise and Coursera's online learning platform, the partners aim to make AI ethics education more accessible to learners worldwide and encourage the adoption of human-centred AI practices across the technology ecosystem.