To explore the opportunities, challenges, and growing impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Science worldwide, particularly in the global South, TWAS is launching a monthly Distinguished Speaker Webinar Series.
The first webinar will feature Virgílio Almeida, a TWAS Fellow and professor emeritus at Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil. The event will take place online via Zoom on 25 May 2026 at 14:00 CEST, in a 45-minute online lecture format. Register here.
In his presentation, titled “Shaping Responsible AI in the Global South: Inequality, Ethics, and Scientific Futures“, Almeida will examine the societal implications of AI development, with a focus on inequality, ethical considerations, and the role of scientific communities in shaping responsible and inclusive technological futures.
Abstract
The talk examines the challenges and opportunities of advancing responsible AI from the perspective of the global South. It argues that current governance frameworks, largely shaped by the global North, do not adequately reflect the socio-economic, cultural, and political realities of developing countries. The presentation calls for context-aware approaches that integrate ethical principles, local knowledge, and development priorities. It highlights the risk of widening inequalities due to unequal access to data, infrastructure, and computational resources, while also recognizing AI’s potential to support sustainable development. It advocates for inclusive governance, participatory design, and stronger international collaboration, positioning the global South as an active contributor to shaping AI’s future.
Who is Virgílio Almeida
Virgílio Almeida is a professor emeritus of computer science at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil, and a faculty associate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University. He is co-author of five books on web technologies and performance modelling, and author of Governance for the Digital World (Palgrave Macmillan, 2021) and Algorithmic Institutionalism (Oxford University Press, 2023). His scholarly work focuses on social computing and the governance of artificial intelligence and algorithmic systems. Almeida is a member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, the US National Academy of Engineering, and TWAS. In 2025, Almeida received the inaugural UNESCO–Uzbekistan Prize for Scientific Research on AI Ethics, recognizing his innovative contributions to the field.
About the TWAS Distinguished Speaker Webinar Series on AI and Data Science
The Series aims to highlight practical perspectives on AI and data science applications relevant to developing countries and to foster dialogue among scientists, policymakers, and the broader research community.