WASHINGTON, DC — THE United Nations (UN) will soon establish a working group to examine the impact of artificial intelligence and how it can be better leveraged for the development of humanity.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres confirmed the move during a press conference at UN headquarters in New York on February 5. He announced that he has submitted to the General Assembly a list of 40 distinguished individuals from every region to serve on the new Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence.
“The Panel is a direct response to the mandate given by Member States in the Pact for the Future to strengthen multilateral solutions for emerging technologies that are reshaping every aspect of our lives,” he told reporters.
Once established, the body will be the first global, fully independent scientific panel dedicated to helping close the AI knowledge gap and assess the real impacts of artificial intelligence across economies and societies.
Guterres noted that the creation of the group is timely, as AI continues to advance at what he described as “the speed of light.” Against that backdrop, he emphasized the global need for shared understanding to build “effective guardrails, unlock innovation for the common good, and foster cooperation.”
In recent years, advances in artificial intelligence have brought both benefits and risks across sectors, including education and business. The technology has also contributed to the rise of fake news and deepfake videos, developments that are increasingly affecting younger generations.
According to Guterres, the panel will help the world separate fact from falsehood and science from speculation.
“It will provide an authoritative reference point at a moment when reliable, unbiased understanding of AI has never been more critical.
“Following an open global call that drew more than 2,600 applications, I have proposed to the General Assembly a list of individuals with deep expertise across disciplines — including machine learning, data governance, public health, cybersecurity, childhood development, and human rights.”
All members will serve in their personal capacity, independent of any government, company, or institution.
The panel will operate on a fast track, with its first report expected in time to inform the Global Dialogue on AI Governance in July.
