MANILA, Philippines – Rappler CEO and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa is among 40 experts recommended by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to join the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence.

Officials on Wednesday, February 4, made the announcement listing the proposed panel members who would serve as the first global scientific body on AI.

Canadian AI pioneer Yoshua Bengio and French national and senior director for research and engineering at Google DeepMind Joelle Barral are also on the proposed list.

‘Helping close the AI knowledge gap’

Guterres, during a press event, said, “It will be the first global, fully independent scientific body dedicated to helping close the AI knowledge gap and assess the real impacts of AI across economies and societies.” The panel, a proposed equivalent to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change but for artificial intelligence, was established by the General Assembly in August 2025.

In a letter by Guterres to the president of the UN General Assembly, the proposed list of 40 experts was made following “a criteria-based open call published from September 25 to October 31, 2025, through which approximately 2,700 candidates submitted applications.”

“The list was composed from among these applicants on the basis of outstanding expertise in artificial intelligence and related fields, an interdisciplinary perspective, and geographical and gender balance. The list further took into account candidacies from a broad representation of varying levels of technological development, including from developing countries, with due consideration given to nominations from Member States and with no more than two candidates of the same nationality or affiliation, and no employees of the United Nations system.”

The panel, which brings together people from 37 countries, has expertise in machine learning, data governance, public health, cybersecurity, childhood development, and human rights.

“We need shared understandings to build effective guardrails, unlock innovation for the common good, and foster cooperation,” Guterres added.

What will the panel do?

According to an FAQ page on the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI, the panel has been mandated to produce an annual report on “the opportunities, risks and impacts of artificial intelligence, which will be presented at the United Nations Global Dialogue on AI Governance.”

It may also prepare thematic briefs on issues of concern and give updates on its work to the General Assembly up to twice a year, and can form working groups and consult informally with external experts as needed.

Why it matters

The Panel is the first global scientific body dedicated entirely to artificial intelligence.

The panel will help serve as an early-warning and evidence engine, helping distinguish between hype and reality.

It aims to level the information playing field by making complex assessments more readily accessible to UN member states and other stakeholders by bridging the gap between AI research and policy by making policy-relevant annual reports and thematic briefs on AI’s risks, opportunities, and impacts.

The panel will also inform international debates by offering findings to the Global Dialogue on AI governance, and ensure inclusive perspectives as the 40 members of the panel reflect gender, geography, and diverse levels of technological development, including from the Global South. – Rappler.com