IE University Hosts UN AI Scientific Panel Members for a Meeting on AI’s Risks, Opportunities and Impact

IE University hosted members of the United Nations’ Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence (AI) for a meeting bridging science and policy at IE Tower, held on the margins of the Panel’s first in-person meeting, which took place in Madrid.

The Independent International Scientific Panel on AI is the first global scientific body on artificial intelligence within the United Nations system, which was established by the UN General Assembly in February 2026. Its inaugural in-person meeting, held in Madrid, marks a milestone in their work to produce evidence-based scientific assessments of AI’s risks, opportunities, and societal impacts, informing international dialogue and policymaking. In this context, IE University offered a space for reflection and dialogue between Panel members and the academic community on AI governance, underscoring the role of universities as neutral platforms for engagement between science, technology, and public policy.

The Independent International Scientific Panel on AI brings together 40 experts from across disciplines and regions, appointed by the UN General Assembly, ensuring the Panel’s independence from governments, industry, and institutions. Selected from more than 2,600 candidates across 140+ countries, the panel members bring expertise spanning machine learning, public health, economics, human rights, a group that is geographically diverse and gender balanced. The Panel is co-chaired by Maria Ressa (Philippines), journalist, 2021 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and global advocate for information integrity and human rights; and Yoshua Bengio (Canada), 2018 Turing Award recipient, Professor at Université de Montréal, and the world’s most-cited living researcher.

Bridging academia and global policy

The evening at IE University featured an open exchange between Panel members and IE University faculty, fostering discussion on scientific, societal, and regulatory challenges shaping the development of artificial intelligence. The program opened with welcoming remarks by IE University Rector Manuel Muñiz, followed by a dedicated Q&A session with faculty that enabled direct dialogue on issues including AI risk assessment, public trust, innovation, and long-term societal impact. The exchange highlighted the importance of sustained engagement between academic research and international policy processes.

“The governance of artificial intelligence will be one of the defining challenges of the international system in the decades ahead. From IE University, we believe that aligning scientific knowledge, public policy, and education will be essential to ensure this technology strengthens open, inclusive, and prosperous societies,” said Manuel Muñiz, Rector of IE University.

"The Panel's work benefits from exactly this kind of exchange — with academic communities, with researchers, and with the institutions shaping the next generation of leaders. We're grateful to IE University for creating that space," said Amandeep Singh Gill, UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Envoy for Digital and Emerging Technologies. 

A global process informing AI governance 

Beyond Madrid, the Panel is currently working to deliver a first output, scheduled for release in July 2026. It will provide a scientific assessment of AI’s risks, opportunities and impact and is expected to serve as a key reference for governments and international organizations worldwide.

The Panel’s findings will be discussed in Geneva during the inaugural Global Dialogue on AI Governance (6–7 July 2026). Together, these forums will bring governments, researchers, civil society, industry, and technical experts into dialogue to deliberate on the governance questions that no single country or region can resolve alone.