New AI panel to examine risks, possibilities, and repercussions
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres shared his insights following the General Assembly’s appointment of the members of the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence. In an official statement, he described it as a foundational step towards global scientific understanding of AI and stated, “The 40 members of the new Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence, established within the United Nations, have been appointed by the General Assembly of the United Nations for a three-year term.” They will serve in their personal capacity. He further shared that the members were selected from more than 2,600 candidates, following an independent review by the International Telecommunication Union, the UN Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.
According to the UN Chief, a multidisciplinary group of leading AI experts from across the globe—geographically diverse and gender-balanced—would provide independent and impartial assessments of AI’s opportunities, risks, and impacts, including for the new Global Dialogue on AI Governance. “In a world where AI is racing ahead, this Panel will provide what’s been missing — rigorous, independent scientific insight that enables all Member States, regardless of their technological capacity, to engage on an equal footing,” he said.
In his concluding remarks, he conveyed assurance that their work would contribute to collective dialogue on AI and bolster evidence-based decisions rooted in solidarity. The United Nations official website reports that on Thursday, the General Assembly appointed 40 members to the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence, as recommended by the Secretary-General, in response to a request from the United States for a recorded vote.
Formed through a General Assembly resolution in 2025, the Panel represents the inaugural global scientific entity of its nature, with the objective of uniting experts to evaluate the impact of technology on the world and its inhabitants. An annual report will be issued, featuring evidence-based scientific assessments that synthesize and analyze existing research concerning the technology’s opportunities, risks, and impacts.
