Title: UN chief submits list of experts for new global AI scientific panel
The United Nations Secretary-General has forwarded to the UN General Assembly a proposed list of 40 international experts to serve on a newly established scientific panel on artificial intelligence. The panel is intended to offer independent, science-based insight into AI’s impacts on society, economies, and governance.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has submitted a roster of 40 individuals to the United Nations General Assembly as candidates for what is being described as the first global, independent scientific panel on AI. The panel’s proposed members were selected following an open global call receiving more than 2,600 applications from around the world. All 40 are expected to serve in a personal capacity, independent of governments, companies or institutions.
The effort responds to a 2025 UN resolution mandating the creation of an Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence under the UN’s Pact for the Future. The panel is intended to provide an authoritative reference point on AI at a time when the technology is rapidly influencing economic systems, social structures, governance debates, and international relations. Supporters say unbiased scientific assessment can help policymakers and the public separate reliable evidence from speculation or misinformation about AI’s effects.
The panel is expected to serve a three-year term from its appointment and has been described as a mechanism to help close knowledge gaps in AI across different disciplines and regions. The proposed members come from a range of technical and scientific backgrounds, spanning fields such as machine learning, public health, cybersecurity, data governance, and human rights.
Among the selected experts are noted figures such as Yoshua Bengio, a pioneer in artificial intelligence research, and Maria Ressa, who has highlighted challenges in the intersection of technology and freedom of information. Other members include specialists from diverse regions, such as Girmaw Abebe Tadesse, Tuka Alhanai, and Joëlle Barral, reflecting geographical and disciplinary breadth.
The panel is expected to help create a shared evidence base that can support international cooperation on AI governance, foster understanding among countries with differing regulatory approaches, and advise on potential risks and opportunities presented by rapidly advancing AI technologies.
The list now awaits formal consideration and appointment by the UN General Assembly.
