The appointed the Panel’s 40 members on 12 February 2026, by a , for a three-year term running to 11 February 2029. The members were drawn from more than 2,600 applications from over 140 countries, following independent review by ITU, ODET and UNESCO, and comprise 19 women and 21 men from all five UN regions. At the Panel’s first on 3 March 2026 the members elected Yoshua Bengio of Canada and Maria Ressa of the Philippines as co-chairs. Members serve in their personal capacity rather than as representatives of governments, employers or institutions.
What this means for
Reading asOptional: it just picks which take you see first.
Just curious / new to AI
Its membership provides the expertise and regional legitimacy for annual UN scientific assessments of AI.
Pick a role above and this becomes the reading for that desk: what it means, what to watch, and a line you can use.
Data & Digital
- So what
- The Panel is operational: 40 appointed members and elected co-chairs can now produce annual AI assessments you may need to cite.
- Watch for
- Track the first assessment outputs. Members serve through 11 February 2029 and in their personal capacity, so read for technical findings, not national lines.
- Use it
- Cite the Panel members page and FAQ: appointed by the General Assembly; members serve in their personal capacity, not for governments or institutions.
Front Office
- So what
- The Panel is now operational: 40 members are appointed through 11 February 2029, with co-chairs in place, so AI assessments now come from experts.
- Watch for
- The Panel’s annual UN scientific assessments on AI; after its first plenary on 3 March 2026, substantive outputs are next.
- Use it
- Safe line: “The General Assembly appointed a 40-member independent scientific panel on AI, serving in their personal capacity across all five UN regions.”
OPGA
- So what
- The Assembly has exercised its appointment power: 40 Panel members were appointed by recorded vote to 11 February 2029, underscoring GA ownership of this advisory process.
- Watch for
- Track the Panel’s annual scientific assessments and any Assembly handling of them; members elected the co-chairs at the first plenary on 3 March 2026.
- Use it
- Safe line: “The General Assembly appointed the members; the members elected the co-chairs and serve in their personal capacity.”
Peace & Security
No Peace & Security reading was written for this one: it was judged to sit outside that desk. Its membership provides the expertise and regional legitimacy for annual UN scientific assessments of AI.
Development & Policy
No Development & Policy reading was written for this one: it was judged to sit outside that desk. Its membership provides the expertise and regional legitimacy for annual UN scientific assessments of AI.
Human Rights
No Human Rights reading was written for this one: it was judged to sit outside that desk. Its membership provides the expertise and regional legitimacy for annual UN scientific assessments of AI.
Builders
No Builders reading was written for this one: it was judged to sit outside that desk. Its membership provides the expertise and regional legitimacy for annual UN scientific assessments of AI.
Permanent Missions
No Permanent Missions reading was written for this one: it was judged to sit outside that desk. Its membership provides the expertise and regional legitimacy for annual UN scientific assessments of AI.
How other roles read this
Data & Digital
- So what
- The Panel is operational: 40 appointed members and elected co-chairs can now produce annual AI assessments you may need to cite.
- Watch for
- Track the first assessment outputs. Members serve through 11 February 2029 and in their personal capacity, so read for technical findings, not national lines.
- Use it
- Cite the Panel members page and FAQ: appointed by the General Assembly; members serve in their personal capacity, not for governments or institutions.
Front Office
- So what
- The Panel is now operational: 40 members are appointed through 11 February 2029, with co-chairs in place, so AI assessments now come from experts.
- Watch for
- The Panel’s annual UN scientific assessments on AI; after its first plenary on 3 March 2026, substantive outputs are next.
- Use it
- Safe line: “The General Assembly appointed a 40-member independent scientific panel on AI, serving in their personal capacity across all five UN regions.”
OPGA
- So what
- The Assembly has exercised its appointment power: 40 Panel members were appointed by recorded vote to 11 February 2029, underscoring GA ownership of this advisory process.
- Watch for
- Track the Panel’s annual scientific assessments and any Assembly handling of them; members elected the co-chairs at the first plenary on 3 March 2026.
- Use it
- Safe line: “The General Assembly appointed the members; the members elected the co-chairs and serve in their personal capacity.”