Professor B Ravindran from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has been appointed to the United Nations Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence, a newly constituted global body tasked with providing rigorous and independent scientific assessments of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its societal impact.
This marks an important moment for India’s representation in global AI governance frameworks.
About UN Independent International Scientific Panel on AI
The panel:
- Was established through a resolution of the UN General Assembly in August 2025.
- Is the first global scientific body dedicated exclusively to Artificial Intelligence.
- Comprises 40 leading experts from diverse regions and disciplines.
- Will provide evidence-based, independent scientific assessments to inform international policy discussions.
Mandate of the Panel
The panel will examine:
- AI’s impact on economies
- AI’s role in governance systems
- AI’s influence on society and everyday life
- Risks, ethics, safety, and inclusiveness
- Long-term global implications of AI technologies
Its purpose is to ensure that international AI policy discussions are grounded in scientific evidence rather than fragmented national approaches.
Global Digital Compact Linkage
The creation of the panel follows commitments made under the Global Digital Compact, adopted at the 2024 Summit of the Future.
The Global Digital Compact called for:
- A shared global vision for an open, safe, and inclusive digital future
- Responsible AI development
- International cooperation on emerging technologies
- Creation of a global scientific body on AI
The AI panel is a direct institutional outcome of that commitment.
Prof. B Ravindran:
- Heads the Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI at IIT Madras.
- Founding head of the Centre for Responsible AI (CeRAI) at IIT Madras.
- Has over three decades of experience in AI research.
- Research interests include:
- Responsible AI
- AI ethics
- Deep reinforcement learning
- Machine learning systems
His appointment highlights India’s growing contribution to responsible AI research and global digital governance.
Significance for India
- Strengthens India’s voice in global AI policy formulation.
- Enhances representation of Global South perspectives in AI governance.
- Reinforces IIT Madras’ leadership in AI research.
- Supports India’s ambition to become a global AI hub.
- Aligns with India’s Digital Public Infrastructure and AI innovation ecosystem.