UAE expert in the running for UN panel shaping global AI governance

The United Nations Secretary-General has nominated UAE national Tuka Alhanai among top international experts from around the world to help guide the global response to artificial intelligence.

Speaking at the UN headquarters in New York, Guterres said he has submitted the list to the General Assembly. 

He added that the move to establish an Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence marked a decisive step towards ensuring AI “serves all of humanity”.

The panel is being created in response to a mandate from UN member states under the Pact for the Future, which calls for stronger multilateral approaches to emerging technologies.

He described the body as the world’s first fully independent global scientific panel dedicated to assessing the real-world impact of artificial intelligence on economies and societies. With AI advancing at unprecedented speed, he said, no single country could grasp its full implications alone.

“AI is moving at the speed of light,” Guterres said, stressing the need for shared understanding to establish safeguards, encourage innovation for the common good and strengthen international cooperation.

The proposed panel will aim to separate reliable science from misinformation and provide an impartial reference point for governments at a time when AI is increasingly shaping daily life.

Guterres explained a global open call received more than 2,600 nominations, with the proposed list comprising experts with deep experience across a wide range of disciplines, including machine learning, data governance, public health, cyber security, child development and human rights.

He affirmed all members will serve in their personal capacities and with full independence from any government, company or institution. He also noted that the panel will operate on an accelerated timeline, with its first report expected to be issued in time to contribute to the global dialogue on artificial intelligence governance scheduled to take place in July.