UN Releases First Scientific Report on AI

The United Nations released its first scientific assessment of artificial intelligence in July 2026 under the title Preliminary Report of the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI. The panel has 40 members and is co-chaired by Turing Award laureate Yoshua Bengio and Nobel laureate Maria Ressa.

Artificial Intelligence and Global Governance

Artificial intelligence is a branch of computer science that enables machines to perform tasks linked to learning, reasoning, pattern recognition, and language processing. The report covers seven themes, including AI science, healthcare, education, agriculture, economic effects, security, environmental impacts, human rights, democracy, cultural well-being, individual well-being, governance, and reliability.

Scientific Assessment and Policy Process

The Independent International Scientific Panel on AI was created to assess scientific evidence on AI and not to prescribe policy. The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres stated that governments need independent scientific evidence before making policy choices, and the report was prepared for use in the Global Dialogue on AI Governance.

AI Computing Capacity and Concentration

The report records that the United States accounted for about 75% of global AI computing capacity in 2025, while China accounted for about 15%. AI computing capacity refers to the hardware and infrastructure used to train and run large AI models, including advanced chips, data centres, and cloud systems.

Important Facts for Exams

• The Independent International Scientific Panel on AI has 40 members.
• Yoshua Bengio won the Turing Award, and Maria Ressa won the Nobel Peace Prize.
• The inaugural Global Dialogue on AI Governance was held in Geneva on 6-7 July 2026.
• A more comprehensive AI report is expected in 2027 for the second Global Dialogue in New York.

AI Governance and International Institutions

The report is the first in a series of periodic assessments on artificial intelligence. The United Nations uses such scientific assessments to support discussions on governance, safety, and reliability in emerging technologies.