UN Approves Global Scientific Panel on AI Despite Strong US Opposition

The UN General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly to establish a 40-member global scientific panel on artificial intelligence , a move aimed at deepening international understanding of AI’s risks and impacts but strongly opposed by the United States.

The resolution was adopted by 117 votes to two , with the United States and Paraguay voting against, while Tunisia and Ukraine abstained . Most US allies in Europe and Asia backed the initiative, alongside Russia, China and a large number of developing countries, underscoring a divergence between Washington and many of its traditional partners on global AI governance.

The panel was set up by Antonio Guterres , who described its adoption as “a foundational step toward global scientific understanding of AI.” He said the body would provide “rigorous, independent scientific insight” to help all countries, regardless of technological capacity, engage meaningfully on AI-related challenges.

According to UN officials, the panel will serve as the first fully independent global scientific body dedicated to AI , with a mandate to assess its real-world economic, social and technological impacts , including risks related to inequality, labour markets, governance and security. It will be advisory in nature and will not regulate AI directly.

The panel will comprise 40 members serving three-year terms , selected from more than 2,600 candidates following an independent review by the International Telecommunication Union , the UN Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies and UNESCO . Members include leading AI experts as well as specialists from other disciplines, such as journalism and ethics.

The US delegation rejected the initiative, calling it an overreach of the UN’s mandate. US Mission counsellor Lauren Lovelace said AI governance should not be dictated by international bodies and warned against ceding authority to institutions that could be influenced by authoritarian regimes.

Ukraine said it abstained from the vote due to objections over the inclusion of a Russian expert on the panel.

Despite the opposition, UN officials said the panel is expected to begin work later this year, producing independent assessments intended to inform future global discussions on the responsible development of artificial intelligence.