When U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres introduced the 40 members of the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI, I had a sense of déjà vu. As the U.N. touted members “from all five of the U.N.’s regions” and “from various different backgrounds,” I was reminded of my own experience with the U.N.’s vision of diversity. On…
The alarm bells of an impending AI bubble rang loudly at the recent Cerebral Valley conference, unsettling tech enthusiasts, investors, and even founders. Yet miles away at United Nations Headquarters, a different urgency filled the corridors. Officials were reviewing applications for the newly established Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence, 40 experts tasked not…
As Artificial Intelligence (AI) rapidly reshapes knowledge systems, governance structures, and global development pathways, a fundamental question arises: Who owns the algorithms shaping our collective future? To date, AI development has been largely concentrated in the hands of a few powerful corporations and countries—predominantly in the Global North. Yet a growing chorus of voices, particularly…
