In a watershed moment for global governance and oversight of fast-developing AI technology, the United Nations has announced the establishment of a 40-member scientific authoritative body with the mandate to research the effects of AI, as well as the risks associated with using it.
The decision was approved by the UN General Assembly in its meeting on February 12, when 117 of the 191 eligible member countries supported the initiative, and the USA and Paraguay opposed it; two (2) members abstained from voting (Tunisia and Ukraine).
“The fact there is no international institution or source of rigorous scientific information relating to the growing development and use of AI leaves many nations scrambling to understand how to manage this new technological frontier,” noted UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
According to Secretary-General Guterres, this new panel will provide a scientific basis for individual countries with limited technological capacity to have equal participation on a global stage when determining how to govern AI development, deployment, usage, and regulation.
This is the first fully independent scientific body supported by the United Nations which will develop independent scientific evidence-based assessments about the positive and negative consequences of AI – whether they relate to economics, society, or ethics.
Opposition From the United States
The US has been a vocal opponent of the initiative and believes that the regulation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) should not fall under the purview of the United Nations.
US Mission Councillor Lauren Lovelace described the panel “as a significant overreach” and believes that AI governance should be managed by countries with similar values rather than by international institutions.
The previous Administration under President Trump has emphasised accelerating AI innovation and building domestic infrastructure while resisting Multinational Oversight.
Washington has expressed concern regarding the selection process of members of the panel and cautioned against the potential influence of authoritarian governments.
How Was This Panel Created?
The Secretary-General has stated that there were over 2600 candidates who applied and that members were chosen after independent assessment by the International Telecommunication Union, the UN Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies and UNESCO.
The panel members will commit to serving a three-year term. The membership on the panel will represent a variety of different fields including computer science/economics, but also Ethics/Law/Social Science.
Who makes up the panel?
The panel consists of leading experts in AI and some public intellectuals such as Maria Ressa (Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021), as well as two American researchers (Vipin Kumar; Martha Palmer) and two Chinese scientists (Song Haitao; Wang Jian).
Ukraine abstained from the vote because it does not want a Russian expert on its panel regarding AI governance.
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Why does this matter on a global scale?
AI systems are starting to play an important role in many areas, including healthcare, defense, finance, education, and media however, regulation of AIs is currently fragmented with most of the world’s major powers pursuing their own strategies.
Proponents of the UN Perspective suggest a collaborative approach to science will prevent the misuse of AI, assist in decreasing inequalities between countries, and ensure AIs are used ethically.
Opponents, principally the United States are concerned that the global regulatory bodies could slow down the innovation of AI technology as well as serve as a mechanism for countries to exert political control over their citizenry.
What comes next?
The panel will write independent reports about AI risk, providing benefits and policy ideas. The reports will provide input for future UN discussions about AI and support national regulations regarding the benefits and risks associated with AI.
It’s still unknown whether the recommendations of the panel will impact the decision-making processes of the primary AI superpowers however, for many developing nations; the outcome of the vote represents a growing interest in creating international regulations for AI as it increasingly shapes our world today.
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