The United States has announced its intention to rejoin UNESCO, a decade-long dispute having been resolved with the decision to pay more than $600 million in back dues. The return of the U.S., which was once the agency’s biggest funder, is expected to have a significant impact on UNESCO policymaking, particularly in the areas of artificial intelligence and technology education, and to provide a much-needed financial boost to the organization. The formalization of the plan to rejoin was met with applause from the audience.