At the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly — the 72nd plenary meeting, on February 13, 2026, at 4:00 a.m. Beijing time, the members of the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence were officially appointed.

Among the 40 members selected is Song Haitao, President of Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Research Institute — a distinguished expert chosen to serve on this global scientific advisory body.

In September 2024, the United Nations Summit of the Future adopted the Global Digital Compact, which formally established two key implementation mechanisms: the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence and the Global AI Governance Dialogue. The panel was later affirmed by UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/79/325 on August 26, 2025, which set its membership at 40 experts and outlined its scope, structure, and operating procedures, authorizing the UN Secretary-General to initiate an open call for candidates.

On February 13, 2026, the United Nations General Assembly approved the list of 40 members of the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI, including Song Haitao and Wang Jian, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and cloud-computing expert.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated that this panel — the first fully independent scientific body dedicated to bridging knowledge gaps in AI and assessing AI’s real-world economic and social impacts — will operate independently with support from the United Nations.

He emphasized that artificial intelligence is advancing at unprecedented speed and highlighted the urgency of effective global oversight. He noted, “We need to build consensus to create effective safeguards, unleash innovation for the benefit of humanity, and promote international cooperation. This panel will help the world distinguish fact from falsehood and differentiate science from pseudoscience.”

Song Haitao

He has long focused on frontier research, application development, standards development, technology transfer, and international collaboration in artificial intelligence and robotics. He serves as co-leader of the National Standardization Committee’s Working Group on Humanoid Robots (Embodied Intelligence) and China’s BRICS High-Performance Computing & AI Working Group Leader. Under his leadership, his team has led numerous national and provincial scientific research projects, and participated in drafting more than 100 international, national, and industrial standards. His research achievements have been recognized with awards including the World Internet Conference Leading Technology Award, Gold Medal at the Geneva International Invention Exhibition, the Chinese Association for Artificial Intelligence Outstanding Scientific & Technological Achievement Award, and the First Prize in Technology Invention of Shanghai.

Committed to Innovation & National Development

After graduating from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Song Haitao devoted himself to national infrastructure and innovation. As global science and technology increasingly demands interdisciplinary integration and international competition shifts toward fundamental research, he recognized the need for strong basic research to address core technical challenges. In 2019, he returned to his alma mater to establish the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Research Institute, a city-level institution jointly supported by the Shanghai Municipal Government and SJTU.

Over six years, Song has led the institute to build a new development model anchored in three strategic priorities: advanced professional research, technology transfer platforms, and innovation ecosystems. The institute has expanded into areas including intelligent robotics, indigenous AI frameworks, the Global Industrial AI Alliance Center of Excellence, and innovation funding initiatives, helping establish a globally influential AI research institution.

Advancing AI Research & Industry Integration

Under Song’s leadership, the institute has developed a new research and innovation paradigm that spans scientific research, technological breakthroughs, engineering deployment, ecosystem building, and industrial application. In six years, the institute has helped incubate more than 20 hard tech enterprises, fostering an emerging ecosystem around embodied intelligence and industrial AI. These efforts have promoted the commercialization of core AI technologies and strengthened China’s industrial competitiveness in intelligent systems.

Engaging in Global AI Governance

Drawing on its scientific and industrial practice, Song Haitao has participated deeply in global AI governance efforts, advocating for Chinese perspectives in international AI policy conversations.

AI is widely recognized as a strategic technology driving the current wave of technological revolution and industrial transformation. In 2024, under the leadership of national and Party leaders, the Global Industrial AI Alliance Center of Excellence was established in Shanghai — a platform focused on innovation, application, and shared ecosystem building. Under Song’s leadership, the center advances cooperation with more than 30 countries and top research institutions, leads the publication of global guidelines and case studies on industrial AI, and contributes to international standards proposals, such as safety requirements for humanoid robots.

Congratulations to President Song Haitao!

Source: Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Research Institute\ Editor: ZHU Shiqi\ Editor-in-Chief: ZENG Yuzhu

Translated by: Rebecca

Proofread by: Zara

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