Princeton University researchers are playing a key role in shaping the global conversation around artificial intelligence. Adji Bousso Dieng and Aleksandra Korolova, both faculty members in the Department of Computer Science, have been appointed to the United Nations’ Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence. The panel, established in , is a first-of-its-kind body dedicated to assessing the risks, opportunities, and broader impacts of AI on society.
The appointments, confirmed by the U.N. General Assembly on , follow a rigorous selection process that drew over 2,600 applicants. The panel members were nominated by U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, underscoring the importance the organization places on independent, scientific assessment of this rapidly evolving technology. According to a U.N. Statement, the panel will “serve as a crucial bridge between cutting-edge AI research and policymaking.”
Dieng’s research focuses on the intersection of artificial intelligence and the natural sciences. She leads the Vertaix lab at Princeton, where her team has developed the “Vendi Score,” a tool designed to evaluate the diversity of datasets and model outputs. This is a critical area of concern in machine learning, as biased or limited data can lead to inaccurate or unfair results. The Vendi Score aims to address this by providing a quantifiable metric for assessing data representation. Recently, Vertaix applied the Vendi Score to the detection of emerging variants of viral diseases, including COVID-19, demonstrating its potential for proactive public health monitoring.
Korolova’s work centers on the societal impacts of AI, with a particular emphasis on privacy, fairness, and robustness. She develops algorithms and technologies that enable data-driven innovation while safeguarding these crucial principles. A significant aspect of her research involves designing and conducting audits of AI systems to identify and mitigate potential biases or vulnerabilities. Her expertise is particularly relevant as AI systems are increasingly deployed in sensitive areas like loan applications, hiring processes, and criminal justice.
Dieng joined the Princeton faculty in and has since received several accolades, including a Prix Galien Africa Special Prize, a 2022 Schmidt Sciences AI2050 Early Career Fellowship, and the 2022 Annie T. Randall Innovator Award from the American Statistical Association. Prior to her academic career, she was a research scientist at Google DeepMind from to . Her affiliations at Princeton extend across multiple departments and institutes, including Chemical and Biological Engineering, the Princeton Materials Institute, Princeton Precision Health, the Princeton Quantum Initiative, the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, and the High Meadows Environmental Institute, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of her work.
Korolova arrived at Princeton in with a joint appointment in the School of Public and International Affairs and as associated faculty in the Center for Information Technology Policy. Before Princeton, she held positions as an assistant professor of computer science at the University of Southern California, a research scientist at Google, and a privacy advisor at Snap, Inc. Her contributions have been recognized with a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, a Sloan Research Fellowship, and an NSF CAREER Award. Notably, her work on RAPPOR, a pioneering deployment of differential privacy, received the CCS 2024 Test-of-Time Award, and her research on discrimination in ad delivery has garnered significant attention, including awards from CSCW and FAccT.
The U.N.’s creation of this panel reflects a growing global awareness of the need for careful governance of AI. Secretary-General Guterres has repeatedly emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that “AI is moving at the speed of light.” The panel’s mandate is to provide rigorous, independent scientific assessments to inform policymakers and help the international community navigate the complex challenges and opportunities presented by AI. The panel, comprised of 40 international experts, will convene periodically over the next three years, presenting its annual report at the United Nations Global Dialogue on AI Governance.
The scope of the panel’s work is broad, encompassing economic, social, and ethical considerations. It will delve into priority areas such as health, energy, and education, seeking to understand how AI is transforming these sectors and what steps can be taken to maximize its benefits while minimizing its risks. The panel’s ultimate goal is to foster cooperation and ensure that AI is developed and deployed in a way that benefits all of humanity.
