The United Nations has established a 40-member scientific panel to study the risks and impacts of artificial intelligence (AI), aiming to provide global guidance on the rapidly advancing technology. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the initiative as a “foundational step toward global scientific understanding of AI,” allowing all member states to engage on an equal footing, regardless of their technological capabilities.
Global Support and Controversy
The UN General Assembly approved the panel with a vote of 117-2. The United States and Paraguay opposed it, while Tunisia and Ukraine abstained. Countries including Russia, China, and most European allies supported the move.
Panel members, selected from over 2,600 candidates after an independent review, will serve three-year terms. Europe holds 12 seats, with representatives from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, Belgium, Finland, Austria, Latvia, Turkey, and Russia.
Warnings from AI Experts
The panel’s creation comes amid growing concern within the AI community. Former Anthropic researcher Mrinank Sharma warned in an open letter that “the world is in peril” due to AI and other global crises. Zoe Hitzig, formerly OpenAI’s top researcher, expressed “deep reservations” about her previous employer’s approach. Prominent figures including Dario Amodei, Sam Altman, and Steve Wozniak have also raised alarms about AI risks.
U.S. Pushback
The United States criticized the panel, with representative Lauren Lovelace calling it “a significant overreach of the UN’s mandate and competence” and asserting that AI governance should not be dictated by the UN. Despite this, the UN emphasizes that the panel’s role is to provide independent scientific insight, rather than enforce rules, helping nations navigate AI safely and responsibly.
