The United Nations has set up a 40-member international scientific panel to study the risks and impacts of artificial intelligence (AI), marking a major step toward global oversight of the rapidly advancing technology. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the panel as a “foundational step toward global scientific understanding of AI,” aimed at giving all countries, regardless of technological strength, access to independent scientific insight.
A Global Panel to Monitor AI
The Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence will produce annual reports analyzing AI’s risks, opportunities, and societal impacts. The UN General Assembly approved the initiative with a vote of 117-2, with the United States and Paraguay opposing and Tunisia and Ukraine abstaining. Russia, China, and European allies supported the motion.
Members were chosen from more than 2,600 candidates after an independent review by several UN bodies and the International Telecommunications Union. Each panelist will serve a three-year term. Europe has 12 representatives, including experts from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, Belgium, Finland, Austria, Latvia, Turkey, and Russia.
Industry Voices Urge Caution
The panel’s creation coincides with warnings from AI industry insiders. Former Anthropic safety researcher Mrinank Sharma warned in an open letter that “the world is in peril” due to AI and other crises. Former OpenAI lead researcher Zoe Hitzig expressed “deep reservations” about her company’s approach. Prominent figures such as Dario Amodei, Sam Altman, and Steve Wozniak have also publicly highlighted the potential dangers of AI’s unchecked development.
U.S. Pushback and Debate on Authority
The United States has criticized the panel, with its representative Lauren Lovelace calling it “a significant overreach of the UN’s mandate and competence,” arguing that “AI governance is not a matter for the UN to dictate.” Despite the objections, UN officials maintain that the panel is intended to provide scientific guidance rather than impose regulations, giving all nations a platform to understand and respond to AI risks on equal footing.
