The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in cooperation with the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Science and Education of Azerbaijan, launched the ICESCO AI Index for the Islamic World to measure trends in AI development among the Member States. The Index was launched during an international AI conference held on Monday, 8 December 2025, in Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan.

The conference was attended by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General; His Highness Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Supreme Chairman of the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences; Ms. Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in Azerbaijan; and Mr. Emin Amrullayev, Minister of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, along with senior officials and experts from across the Islamic world.

In his opening address, Dr. AlMalik stressed that the ICESCO Index will assess countries’ readiness, guide policy-making, and foster creativity in the field of Artificial Intelligence, noting that the Index project, which currently includes nine leading countries in the Islamic world, is part of efforts to implement the Riyadh Charter on Artificial Intelligence in the Islamic World, which serves as the ethical and strategic reference for ICESCO Member States.

Dr. AlMalik further explained that the development of AI technologies should be based on three principles, namely adapting educational processes for AI applications by disseminating guidelines and training teachers to integrate AI tools, empowering women and girls in STEM, and creating an environment conducive to innovation and creativity in the Member States.

In her remarks, Ms. Leyla Aliyeva emphasized the importance of accurately assessing the AI impact on societies and guiding youth to seize the opportunities offered by this technology while raising awareness of its risks.

For his part, Mr. Emin Amrullayev stated that AI offers broad possibilities for building fair and inclusive educational systems, stressing the need for ethical responsibility in applying this technology in education.

The conference then moved to panel discussions featuring contributions from Dr. Kais Hammami, Head of ICESCO’s Center for Foresight and Artificial Intelligence, and Ms. Ouiam Chafik from the same Center. At the close of the conference, the Baku Declaration on the AI Index for the Islamic World was adopted, commending the ICESCO Index and highlighting AI’s potential to improve education, healthcare, cultural heritage preservation, economic development, and environmental management.