The United Nations has formed a 40-member scientific panel to study the risks and impacts of artificial intelligence (AI), even as the United States voiced strong objections. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the move a “foundational step toward global scientific understanding of AI,” aiming to provide independent guidance as AI technology develops at an unprecedented pace.
International Support and Opposition
The UN General Assembly approved the panel with a vote of 117-2. The United States and Paraguay voted against it, while Tunisia and Ukraine abstained. Countries including Russia, China, and European allies supported the initiative. The panel, chosen from more than 2,600 candidates, will serve three-year terms and represents a wide range of expertise. Europe holds 12 seats, with members from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, Belgium, Finland, Austria, Latvia, Turkey, and Russia.
Industry Voices Raise Concerns
The panel’s formation comes as AI researchers and former employees of major AI companies express alarm about the technology’s rapid expansion. Mrinank Sharma, former safety researcher at Anthropic, warned in an open letter that “the world is in peril.” Zoe Hitzig, formerly OpenAI’s lead researcher, also voiced “deep reservations” about her former company’s approach. High-profile figures like Dario Amodei, Sam Altman, and Steve Wozniak have similarly cautioned about AI’s potential dangers.
U.S. Criticism and the Panel’s Role
The U.S. representative, Lauren Lovelace, described the panel as “a significant overreach of the UN’s mandate and competence,” emphasizing that AI governance should not be dictated by the UN. UN officials counter that the panel is intended to provide independent scientific insight rather than enforce rules, giving all member states, regardless of technological capacity, a fair seat at the table to understand and manage AI risks.
