UN Establishes Global AI Scientific Panel
The United Nations has created the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence to evaluate the societal, economic, and ethical impacts of AI. Composed of leading international researchers, the body is designed to address global concerns over the rapid and unregulated deployment of AI. Its role is being compared to that of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, intended to provide scientific consensus and policy guidance on AI governance.
The 40 members of the panel were appointed by the UN General Assembly in February 2026 and will serve a three-year term. These experts were selected from a pool of over 2,600 candidates and represent a wide range of disciplines and geographical regions. The selection process was conducted by the International Telecommunication Union, the UN Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies, and UNESCO. This new body is tasked with producing annual evidence-based reports on the opportunities, risks, and societal impacts of artificial intelligence. Its mandate is to provide independent, impartial scientific assessments to inform global policy and dialogue on AI governance. The panel will not conduct its own research but will synthesize existing work, similar to the approach of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The creation of the panel was not without controversy, as the United States and Paraguay voted against its formation. The U.S. delegation voiced concerns that the panel represents an overreach of the UN's mandate. Despite these objections, the resolution to establish the panel passed with a vote of 117 to 2, with two abstentions. The panel's work is intended to bridge the knowledge gap on AI and its real-world impacts, providing a foundation for international cooperation. Its findings will be presented to the UN's Global Dialogue on AI Governance, aiming to help shape a globally inclusive approach to the technology's development and use.
