The UN forms a global AI governance mechanism.

The United Nations General Assembly officially launches two new mechanisms to strengthen the governance of artificial intelligence at the global level. Resolution A/RES/79/325, adopted on 26 August 2025, establishes its establishment.Independent International Scientific Panel on AIandGlobal Dialogue on AI Governance. These two initiatives are expected to form the basis for more inclusive international cooperation in addressing the opportunities and risks of rapidly evolving AI.

Scientific Panel on AI, Bridge Between Science and Policy

This independent scientific panel consists of 40 experts who were selected through an open process. Membership is arranged to reflect geographic and gender diversity. Each member will serve for three years. The panel's main task is to develop an evidence-based analysis of the opportunities, challenges, and risks of AI that are relevant to public decision-making.

This panel is not prescriptive, but provides a solid scientific basis so that the policies that emerge have legitimacy and sustainability. The UN Secretary-General will open the call for nominations in the near future. The results of the recommendations will be submitted for adoption by the General Assembly.

The panel's annual report will be the main document submitted to the member states. In addition, periodic updates can be made up to twice a year through interactive dialogue at the UN General Assembly plenary session. With this mechanism, the UN seeks to narrow the gap between technological progress and regulatory readiness.

Global Dialogue on AI Governance, Inclusive Multistakeholder Forum

This global dialogue is designed as an open discussion space that involves member states, academics, civil society, and even the private sector. The goal is to build a shared understanding of AI governance, including ethics, security, and social impact.

The first dialogue will be held at the 80th UN General Assembly in September 2025. The two-day annual meeting will be held alternately in Geneva and New York. In 2026, the forum will be held to coincide with the ITU AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva. Meanwhile in 2027, the forum will be held in New York alongside the multi-stakeholder forum on science, technology, and innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals.

The agenda of every meeting includes presentations of the scientific panel's report, a multistakeholder plenary session, and thematic discussions. The Co-Chairs forum will also gather inputs on international AI governance priorities to be conveyed athigh-level reviewGlobal Digital Compact at the 82nd UN General Assembly.

Important Steps in the Global Digital Compact

These two mechanisms are part of the Global Digital Compact agenda agreed at the Summit of the Future in 2024. This resolution is regarded as a historic milestone in the effort to create AI governance that is fairer, more transparent, and human-centered.

Spain's Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares described this step as an important breakthrough to ensure that AI is developed in a way that respects human rights and democracy. Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has emphasized that AI governance must be a global priority because it touches almost every aspect of modern life.

According to the reportDown to Earth, this new approach will strengthen the participation of developing countries in the formulation of AI policy. This is important to prevent the emergence of digital inequality that would further widen the gap between developed countries and poor countries.

Relevance for Business and Society

For the business world, the existence of a global governance framework will create clearer regulatory certainty. The company can anticipate international ethical and security standards that may serve as benchmarks in trade, innovation, and investment.

Startups and large corporations in the AI field have also received signals that future regulation will be more coordinated. This opens up opportunities for the creation of a more equitable global market. For society, this step provides assurance that AI risks such as disinformation, emotional manipulation, and even algorithmic discrimination will be addressed more seriously at the global level.

Implementation Challenges

Although it is positively received, this mechanism still faces a number of challenges. First, how to reconcile the perspectives of developed countries that have invested heavily in AI with those of developing countries that are still focused on basic digital infrastructure. Secondly, to what extent will the scientific panel's recommendations be adopted in practice in each country's national policy?

Third, the existence of a tug-of-war over geopolitical interests. The United States, China, and the European Union have different strategies in AI governance. This global forum has the potential to become an arena for negotiations that will determine the direction of technology's future.

Towards Inclusive AI Governance

The UN resolution on AI governance marks a new phase of international cooperation. With the Scientific Panel on AI as a source of knowledge and Global Dialogue as a space for deliberation, AI governance is expected to be more inclusive and effective.

The United Nations emphasizes that the success of this mechanism depends on the active participation of all parties, including the private sector and civil society. If implemented consistently, this initiative could become a global technology governance model in the digital era.