The United Nations Establishes Two New Bodies to Regulate Artificial Intelligence
The United Nations General Assembly approved the establishment of two new international bodies yesterday, Tuesday, August 26, aimed at deepening scientific understanding of artificial intelligence and enhancing global cooperation in this area.
The two bodies are the International Scientific Group on Artificial Intelligence and the Global Dialogue on AI Governance, as announced by Sharon Birch, spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly.
The scientific group will consist of 40 experts working in a personal capacity for a three-year term, during which it will issue annual reports evaluating the promises, risks, and impacts associated with developments in artificial intelligence.
Meanwhile, the global dialogue will bring together member states and other partners to exchange best practices and draw lessons from national and regional experiences, with the aim of encouraging the use of technology that serves sustainable development goals and contributes to closing the digital divide, according to the UN decision text.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres described this step as “an important advance” that allows for leveraging the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence while minimizing its risks. The spokesperson for the organization, Stéphane Dujarric, called the initiative a “historic milestone” reflecting member states’ commitment to the provisions of the Global Digital Compact adopted in September 2024 as part of the “Charter for the Future.”
The first sessions of the global dialogue are expected to be held in July 2026 in Geneva, followed by a second session in New York in 2027.
