The United Nations has announced a 40-member international scientific panel tasked with studying the risks and impacts of artificial intelligence (AI). UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the initiative a “foundational step toward global scientific understanding of AI,” aimed at giving all nations access to independent, science-based insight as AI development accelerates.
A Worldwide Effort to Monitor AI
The Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence will produce annual reports examining AI’s opportunities, risks, and societal impacts. The UN General Assembly approved the panel with a vote of 117-2, with the United States and Paraguay voting against it and Tunisia and Ukraine abstaining. Russia, China, and most European countries supported the initiative.
Panel members were chosen from over 2,600 candidates through an independent review by UN bodies and the International Telecommunications Union. Each member will serve a three-year term, with Europe holding 12 seats, including representatives from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, Belgium, Finland, Austria, Latvia, Turkey, and Russia.
Industry Voices Raise Alarm
The panel’s creation comes amid growing concern from AI researchers about the technology’s pace and potential hazards. Mrinank Sharma, a former safety researcher at Anthropic, warned in an open letter that “the world is in peril.” Zoe Hitzig, previously OpenAI’s lead researcher, said she had “deep reservations” about her former company’s approach. Prominent figures like Dario Amodei, Sam Altman, and Steve Wozniak have also highlighted AI’s potential dangers.
U.S. Questions UN Authority
The United States has criticized the panel, with representative Lauren Lovelace describing it as “a significant overreach of the UN’s mandate and competence.” She emphasized that “AI governance is not a matter for the UN to dictate,” reflecting wider debate over the role of international organizations versus national oversight in regulating AI.
Despite these objections, UN officials stress that the panel is intended to provide guidance and scientific insight rather than enforce rules, helping nations better understand and manage AI risks on a global scale.
