The United Nations has established a 40-member international scientific panel to examine the risks and impacts of artificial intelligence (AI), despite opposition from the United States. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the panel a “foundational step toward global scientific understanding of AI,” emphasizing the need for independent guidance as AI technology develops rapidly.
Global Support and Structure
The UN General Assembly approved the panel with a vote of 117-2, with the U.S. and Paraguay opposing, and Tunisia and Ukraine abstaining. Nations including Russia, China, and European allies supported the initiative. Members were chosen from over 2,600 candidates through a rigorous 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 Experts Warn of AI Risks
The panel comes at a time of heightened concern from AI insiders. 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, ex-OpenAI lead researcher, expressed “deep reservations” about her former company’s approach. Other industry figures, such as Dario Amodei, Sam Altman, and Steve Wozniak, have also flagged potential dangers from AI’s rapid development.
U.S. Challenges UN Oversight
The United States criticized the panel, with representative Lauren Lovelace describing it as “a significant overreach of the UN’s mandate and competence,” asserting that “AI governance is not a matter for the UN to dictate.” UN officials, however, say the panel is meant to provide scientific insight rather than enforce rules, allowing all countries, regardless of technological capability, to participate equally in evaluating AI’s global risks.
