UN Forms Global AI Advisory Panel
The United Nations has established an Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence to guide global governance. Comprised of dozens of researchers, the group will analyze AI's impacts and provide evidence-based recommendations for governments and industry. Some observers have compared its potential influence to that of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
The creation of the panel was not without controversy; the UN General Assembly approved its formation with a vote of 117-2. The United States and Paraguay were the two nations to vote against the measure, with a U.S. representative citing concerns that the panel was an "overreach of the UN's mandate." This new 40-member body is formally named the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI. Its members, who serve three-year terms in their personal capacity and not as representatives of their institutions, were selected from a pool of over 2,600 applicants. The panel's composition is intentionally diverse, including experts from various backgrounds such as academia, the private sector, civil society, and government. Notable members include Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa and experts from major tech players like China and the U.S. This scientific panel is one of two new UN bodies focused on AI governance. The other, the Global Dialogue on AI Governance, will serve as a platform for governments and stakeholders to discuss cooperation and best practices, informed by the panel's scientific assessments.
