IIT Madras Professor Joins UN’s Global AI Panel

The United Nations has taken a landmark step in shaping the future of Artificial Intelligence by recommending a group of 40 distinguished experts to serve on the newly created Independent International Scientific Panel on AI. Among them is Professor Balaraman Ravindran of IIT Madras, a leading figure in data science and AI research in India.  

Professor Ravindran heads multiple key institutions at IIT Madras, including the Department of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, the Wadhwani School of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, the Robert Bosch Centre for Data Science & Artificial Intelligence, and the Centre for Responsible AI. His academic journey spans a PhD from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a Master’s degree from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. He is also an elected fellow of the Association for the Advancement of AI (AAAI) and the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE).  

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres emphasized that the panel is designed to close the global AI knowledge gap and provide unbiased assessments of AI’s impact across economies and societies. He described the initiative as the first fully independent scientific body dedicated to AI, noting that it will serve as an authoritative reference point at a time when reliable understanding of AI is critical.  

The panel was formed following an open call that attracted over 2,600 applications worldwide. Its members represent diverse disciplines, including machine learning, data governance, public health, cybersecurity, childhood development, and human rights. The group is also gender-balanced, with 19 women and 21 men, and includes experts from countries across every region.  

The panel’s first report is expected in July, ahead of the Global Dialogue on AI Governance. For India, Professor Ravindran’s inclusion underscores the country’s growing influence in global AI research and governance, highlighting its role in shaping ethical and responsible AI for the future.