diff --git a/scripts/ai_config.py b/scripts/ai_config.py
index bd373944..743c87e4 100644
--- a/scripts/ai_config.py
+++ b/scripts/ai_config.py
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ class AIConfig:
         """
 
         try:
-            with open(config_file) as file:
+            with open(config_file, encoding='utf-8') as file:
                 config_params = yaml.load(file, Loader=yaml.FullLoader)
         except FileNotFoundError:
             config_params = {}