A United Nations independent panel warned on July 1 that developments in artificial intelligence are outpacing scientific understanding and government policy, meaning there are no guarantees the technology will not cause catastrophic harm. A preliminary report by the UN’s Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence, comprised of 40 cross-regional experts, stated that policymakers face a growing dilemma: they need robust evidence to regulate AI effectively, yet such evidence is struggling to keep pace with the technology’s rapid evolution. The report, described as the first global independent assessment of AI’s risks and opportunities, noted that AI already demonstrates expert-level reasoning in mathematics and science and that its task complexity is doubling every four to seven months. It outlined safety concerns including the risk of losing control over AI systems as they become increasingly autonomous and deceptive, as well as AI being used to generate misinformation, fraud, cyberattacks and biological threats. The report said governance remains fragmented, with many countries lacking the capacity to assess or shape advanced AI systems. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged governments to act swiftly, stating, “The potential is great, but the risks are real, and the cost of waiting is rising.”