On July 15, 2025, the Human Capability Initiative (HCI) in Saudi Arabia hosted the Launch of the HCI 2025 Insight Report, the flagship report of the HCI 2025 event, which was held in April.  Under the theme #BeyondReadiness, the HCI 2025 Insight Report Launch brought together policymakers, innovators, youth representatives, and thought leaders to discuss the future of education, work, and well-being.

During the HCI 2025 Insight Report Launch, the focus was not only on economic participation but also on creating environments that foster psychological safety, authentic connection, and a true sense of purpose. It was clear that younger generations—particularly Gen Z and Gen Alpha—are seeking autonomy, meaning, and relevance in their learning and career pathways, demanding a new approach to capability building that aligns with their values.

Gen Z and Gen Alpha voices resonated powerfully during the sessions, calling for more humane, purpose-driven systems of learning and work that reduce anxiety and promote genuine engagement. The consensus emerging from these conversations was that no single sector can address these challenges alone; governments, private institutions, international organizations, and civil society must work together to co-create future-ready solutions.

The HCI 2025 Insights Report, is a knowledge product prepared with extensive input from global partners, highlighting how innovation, systemic collaboration, and bold leadership can accelerate the shift toward inclusive and sustainable human development. AI was presented as more than a disruptive tool; it was framed as a paradigm shifter that redefines workforce readiness, reshapes job markets, and challenges traditional notions of capability. The conference emphasized the urgent need for collective action, as the time for preparation has passed and the focus must now shift to implementation, integration, and systemic collaboration to meet emerging national and global goals.

During the HCI 2025 event held last April, UNDP Saudi Arabia hosted a dynamic panel on “The Use and Application of Artificial Intelligence to Support the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus.” The discussion explored how AI can be leveraged to address complex, interlinked crises, improve crisis management, advance education in fragile contexts, and support sustainability and resilience. It featured rich perspectives from Noor Al Sadoun, Peter de Clercq, Ammar Hamadien, Sebastian Rubens y Rojo and Gavin Erasmus, who shared innovative ways to bridge gaps between emergency response, long-term development, education and peacebuilding. Through this panel, UNDP demonstrated how technology can be meaningfully connected to human-centered policies and how AI can support more inclusive and effective approaches to resilience.

This participation positioned UNDP Saudi Arabia as a thought leader, highlighting its role in connecting innovation to human development while showcasing the Kingdom’s own Vision 2030 journey as an example of how transformation can be achieved through collaboration. By highlighting the HDP Nexus in the context of AI, UNDP underscored its commitment to advancing human capability development globally, while also reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s growing reputation as a hub for knowledge, innovation, and inclusive growth.

The launch event also delved into how to overcome information overload and turn raw data into actionable, personalized knowledge. Participants examined cognitive approaches to learning, emphasized the importance of emotionally relevant insights, and debated how AI could help not only accelerate processes but also encourage deeper reflection and creative thinking.

Fast Facts – HCI 2025
✅ +300 speakers & +110 sessions
✅ +13,000 participants and +3M virtual viewers
✅ Key themes: AI, Innovation, Future of Learning, Psychological Safety
✅ Insights contributing directly to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 transformation