UN Launches First Global Panel on Artificial Intelligence

The United Nations has established the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence, marking the first time a global scientific body has been created specifically to assess the transformation driven by AI. The panel is designed to provide rigorous, independent scientific insight to inform international deliberations and global governance.

Established via General Assembly Resolution A/RES/79/325 on August 26, 2025, the body follows the commitments set out in the Global Digital Compact (A/RES/79/1), which was adopted during the 2024 Summit of the Future. The compact envisioned a shared framework for an inclusive, safe, and open digital future.

Composition and Objectives

On February 12, 2026, the General Assembly appointed 40 members to the panel based on recommendations from the Secretary-General. These experts represent various disciplines and regions, serving in their personal capacities to ensure the delivery of independent scientific assessments.

The panel’s primary objective is to analyze the security, economic, and societal impacts of AI. By providing evidence-based analysis, the body aims to move global policymakers away from competing narratives and toward shared scientific evidence and practical governance solutions.

Secretary-General António Guterres opened the first meeting of the panel on March 3, 2026. He noted that the panel will provide the scientific guidance necessary for the global governance of AI, focusing on innovation, human rights, and AI safety.

Impact on Global Governance

The initiative was developed following recommendations from the UN High-Level Advisory Body on AI. The panel’s outputs are intended to serve as a reference point for future international policy discussions and will contribute to the Global Dialogue on AI Governance.

The Global Dialogue on AI Governance is a new United Nations process aimed at coordinating international approaches to cooperation and regulation of the technology. The panel’s first report is expected to be a foundational document for these discussions.

The creation of this body addresses the need for the best available evidence to guide international deliberations, ensuring that the rapid pace of AI development is matched by scientific understanding.

Concerns Regarding Digital Colonization

Alongside the launch of the panel, UN scientists have raised alarms regarding the disparate impact of AI deployment across different regions. Specifically, warnings have been issued that AI is fueling the digital colonisation of Africa.

This perspective highlights the risk that AI technology could deepen global inequalities if not governed by the inclusive and evidence-based frameworks the new scientific panel is tasked with developing.

In a world where AI is racing ahead, this Panel will provide what’s been missing – rigorous, independent scientific insight.

António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General