UN announces independent international scientific panel on AI approved by General Assembly

The United Nations announced that the General Assembly approved the appointment of 40 members to an independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence, selected from more than 2,600 candidates following independent review by the International Telecommunication Union, the UN office for digital and emerging technologies, and UNESCO.

UN spokesperson Steph said the panel "will provide what's been missing, which is rigorous independent scientific insight that enables all member states regardless of their technological capacity to engage on equal footing." She added the panel is expected to inform collective dialogue on AI and support decisions "based on evidence and solidarity."

Reporters asked whether the panel will be listened to and to whom it will report; Steph said she would get exact reporting lines in writing but confirmed the panel will share reports with the secretary-general and provide advice to member states and the UN secretariat. "They will provide the secretariat, with very sound, very sound advice," she said.

The briefing did not list the names of panel members; Steph said the office would share exact reporting lines and additional details in follow-up materials.