Within the framework of its work programme for 2024-2025, COMEST decided to address the topic of the ethics of quantum computing, building on its previous reportson emerging technologies, in particularonthe COMEST Report on Robotics Ethics (2017) and the COMEST Report on the ethical implications of the Internet of Things (2021), as well as its Preliminary Study on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (2019). At the 13th (Ordinary) Session of COMEST in September 2023, the Commission established a Working Group to develop an initial reflection on this topic. The COMEST Working Group met onlineon several occasions in April and May 2024 to discuss the content and structure of their report. The Working Group’s discussion was enriched by a private online Hearing Session with prominent experts in the field. In preparation for the 13th (Extraordinary) Session of COMEST from 16 to 20 September 2024 at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, the COMEST Working Group prepared a concept note providing a synopsis of its reflection so far. As it stands, this concept note does not necessarily represent the final opinion of COMEST and it is subject to further discussion within the Commission in 2024 and 2025. This document also does not pretend to be exhaustive and does not necessarily represent the views of the Member States of UNESCO.
