A United Nations scientific panel has warned that artificial intelligence offers enormous global benefits but also poses significant risks if left unchecked. The findings appear in the panel’s first independent assessment of AI. The report urges governments to strengthen oversight as the technology advances faster than regulation.
The report will be presented to governments during the inaugural UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva on July 6 and 7. It was prepared by 40 independent scientists and experts serving three-year terms without representing governments, institutions, or companies. A more comprehensive assessment is scheduled for release next year.
According to the report, policymakers require stronger scientific evidence to regulate increasingly capable AI systems. Panel co-chair Yoshua Bengio warned that emerging evidence of deceptive AI behaviour raises serious concerns. He said science cannot guarantee that advanced AI systems will avoid causing catastrophic harm, whether independently or through malicious use.
The report said more than one billion people now use conversational AI every week, although adoption remains uneven across countries. It noted that the United States controls about 75% of the computing power among the world’s top 500 AI supercomputers, while China accounts for about 15%. The panel also highlighted limited language support, warning that inaccurate machine translation can affect critical sectors such as healthcare.
The scientists identified risks including misinformation, deepfakes, child sexual abuse material, environmental impacts, and threats to human rights and democratic institutions. They also warned that many countries lack the technical expertise needed to evaluate advanced AI systems or participate effectively in global AI governance. The report calls for stronger international cooperation to maximize AI’s benefits while reducing its risks.