IEEE's 2026 Tech Summit Brings Leading Global Technologists to Budapest to Chart an Ethical Path Forward for AI

Two-day summit will bring together researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders to address transparency, fairness, and accountability in AI

PISCATAWAY, N.J., Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- IEEE, the world's largest technical professional organization and public charity dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity, today announced the 2026 IEEE Tech Summit: Ethical AI, taking place 1–2 October in Budapest, Hungary. The summit will convene AI researchers, policymakers, ethicists, and industry leaders to examine how artificial intelligence can be designed, governed, and deployed in ways that prioritize transparency, fairness, accountability, and societal benefit.

Held under the theme "Exploring Dimensions of Ethical AI in Technology," the two-day program will feature keynote presentations, panel discussions, and breakout sessions covering critical topics such as algorithmic bias and fairness, AI policy and regulation, privacy and data responsibility, misinformation, and human-centered design. The summit will also host the IEEE Tech Summit Ethical AI Global Founders Showcase and Awards, spotlighting emerging innovators working to build responsible AI systems.

"As artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries and societies alike, we have a shared responsibility to ensure it develops in a way that reflects our values of transparency, fairness, and accountability," said Dalma Novak, conference chair and IEEE fellow. "The IEEE Tech Summit: Ethical AI will bring together the diverse voices needed to translate ethical principles into practical action, and we're proud to host and shape this conversation."

The summit builds on IEEE's long-standing leadership and pioneering research in AI ethics, governance, and standardization — including extensive technical literature in IEEE Xplore® and foundational work through the IEEE Standards Association. Building on this deep foundation, IEEE's recent Technology Megatrends 2030 Report, drawing on insights from 168 technical experts across 38 countries, reinforces the urgency of ethical AI. The report found that the technologies most likely to scale at a societal level are those built on trust, explainability, and safe human–AI interaction — not those that simply move fastest, underscoring the critical need for human-centered guardrails across the global workforce.

Attendees will gain practical insights into building trustworthy AI systems, navigating evolving regulatory landscapes, and fostering the cross-border collaboration needed to ensure AI benefits society as a whole.

Registration is now open; those interested in attending can register at https://techsummit.ieee.org/ethical-ai-2026/.

About IEEE
IEEE is the world's largest technical professional organization and is a public charity dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. Through its highly cited publications, conferences, technology standards, and professional and educational activities, IEEE is a trusted voice across fields ranging from global standards, aerospace systems, computers, and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power, and consumer electronics. Learn more at https://www.ieee.org.

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