Maria Ressa, AI Pioneer Yoshua Bengio Named to UN’s First Global AI Panel
UN’s First Global AI Panel
Journalist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa of the Philippines and Canadian artificial intelligence pioneer Yoshua Bengio have been appointed to serve on a newly formed United Nations panel tasked with assessing the global impact of artificial intelligence.
The announcement, made Wednesday by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, named 40 independent experts who will serve three-year terms on what he described as the first fully independent global scientific body dedicated to addressing the growing AI knowledge gap.
“It will be the first global, fully independent scientific body dedicated to helping close the AI knowledge gap and assess the real impacts of AI across economies and societies,” Guterres said during a press conference.
The list of panel members will be submitted to the UN General Assembly for final consideration.
A Diverse Group of Global Experts
Joining Ressa and Bengio on the panel are leading figures from the technology and research sectors. Among them is Joelle Barral, senior director for research and engineering at Google DeepMind, and Ethiopian scientist Girmaw Abebe Tadesse, a principal research scientist at Microsoft working on AI applications for sustainability, humanitarian initiatives, and healthcare.
The panel brings together specialists in machine learning, data governance, cybersecurity, public health, child development, and human rights, reflecting the broad societal implications of artificial intelligence.
Established by the UN General Assembly in August 2025, the body aims to serve a role similar to that of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) but focused on artificial intelligence.
“All members will serve in their personal capacity independent of any government, company, or institution,” Guterres emphasized.
Guiding Global AI Governance
The panel’s mission is to provide independent, science-based assessments that can guide policymakers as AI technologies rapidly reshape industries, economies, and societies worldwide.
Its first report is expected to be released ahead of the UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance in July, where governments and stakeholders will discuss frameworks for responsible AI development and oversight.
With prominent voices such as Ressa known for her advocacy of press freedom and digital accountability and Bengio, one of the world’s most influential AI researchers, the panel is poised to play a key role in shaping the global conversation on artificial intelligence governance.
