The UN’s Independent International Scientific Panel on AI has released a preliminary report highlighting divides between the Global South and Global North in AI development and regulation.
The report points to challenges faced by poorer countries in regulating advanced AI models developed elsewhere. It notes that influence in AI requires abundant electricity, highly capitalised firms, and scarce talent commanding high salaries.
The document compares AI’s rapid progress to social media, which affected public discourse despite having more time to address issues. It lists harms already caused by AI firms, including parasocial fantasies linked to fatalities, damage to news media, deepfakes eroding trust, and ties to global financial systems.
India’s experience is cited, where access to Anthropic’s Mythos and Fable models was withdrawn by the U.S. The report stresses the need for governments to hold AI companies accountable.
