The United Nations has established a 40-member international panel to study the risks and impacts of artificial intelligence (AI), a move hailed by the UN as a key step toward a global scientific understanding of the technology. The decision comes as former AI employees and leading tech figures raise alarms about potential dangers.
A Global Panel to Study AI
The Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence will produce annual reports analyzing AI’s risks, opportunities, and societal effects. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the panel as a “foundational step” that gives all member states, regardless of technological resources, a voice in shaping AI oversight.
The UN General Assembly approved the initiative with a vote of 117-2. The United States and Paraguay opposed the panel, while Tunisia and Ukraine abstained. Countries such as Russia, China, and European allies voted in favor.
Industry Experts Sound Warnings
Concerns about AI’s rapid development have come from within the tech industry itself. Mrinank Sharma, former safety researcher at Anthropic, warned in an open letter that “the world is in peril” from AI and other global crises. Zoe Hitzig, ex-OpenAI researcher, expressed “deep reservations” about the direction of her former company.
High-profile voices like Dario Amodei, Sam Altman, and Steve Wozniak have also cautioned about AI risks, adding urgency to the UN’s decision.
U.S. Challenges UN Authority
The United States has sharply criticized the panel. Lauren Lovelace, the U.S. representative, called it “a significant overreach of the UN’s mandate and competence,” arguing that AI governance should not fall under UN control.
Despite these objections, the UN insists the panel’s role is to provide independent scientific insight rather than enforce policy, helping countries navigate AI development safely and collaboratively on a global scale.
