Dear Colleagues,
On 26 August 2025 the UN General Assembly adopted by consensus the resolution A/RES/79/325 on the Terms of Reference and Modalities for the establishment and functioning of the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence (Panel) and the Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance (Dialogue).
The Panel serves as the first global scientific body on AI, bringing together leading experts to assess how AI is transforming our lives, providing independent, multidisciplinary scientific assessments of the opportunities, risks, and impacts of AI. The Dialogue will work in tandem with the Panel, and discuss international cooperation, share best practices and lessons learned, and to facilitate open, transparent and inclusive discussions on AI governance. The first edition of the Dialogue will take place in July 2026 in Geneva, in the margins of the ITU AI for Good Summit.
In accordance with the resolution, the President of the General Assembly convened a high-level multi-stakeholder informal meeting on 25 September, to launch the Dialogue in the margins of the high-level week of the 80th session of the UNGA in 2025. The event opened with remarks from high-level representatives, including H.E. Annalena Baerbock, President of the 80th General Assembly (Germany), and H.E. António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, and continued with statements from government and non-government representatives from the private sector, civil society, and youth.
Please find attached an informal ICC summary of key takeaways from the discussions. You can watch back the recording of the meeting here.
During the meeting, the UN Secretary-General launched an Open Call for candidates to serve on the Panel. The Panel will comprise 40 members serving in their personal capacity for a three-year term beginning in 2026.
The selected members will:
· Issue an annual report with scientific assessments of the opportunities, risks and impacts of AI, which will be presented at the AI Dialogue in Geneva in July 2026, and New York in May 2027;
· Prepare thematic briefs;
· Provide updates of its work up to twice a year to the General Assembly;
· Form working groups and consult informally with external experts as needed.
For additional information on the functioning of the Panel, please refer to the Terms of Reference and Modalities here.
Selection process
The UN Secretary-General will recommend a list of 40 members of the Panel to be appointed by the General Assembly. Members of the Panel will be recommended and appointed on the basis of:
· Their outstanding expertise in AI and related fields;
· An interdisciplinary perspective;
· Geographical and gender balance.
Recommendations will consider candidates from all regions, including developing countries, taking into account Member State nominations, with no more than two per nationality.
How to apply
Candidates must complete both of the following two steps by 11:59pm ET on 31 October 2025:
1. Fill and submit the application form
2. Email your resume / curriculum vitae (maximum three (3) pages) to aiscientificpanel@un.org.
Ø FOR ACTION ASAP
Please reach out to us should you (1) plan to submit a nomination for the Panel, (2) wish to join the ICC Informal AI Project group, which follows closely the developments of the two new UN AI structures.
Many thanks for your input, and please don’t hesitate to reach out should you have any questions related to this process.
