Washington, D.C.: In an extraordinary show of unity, a wide-ranging coalition of global public figures—including royals, AI pioneers, artists, religious leaders, and political firebrands—have called for a halt to the development of advanced artificial intelligence systems they warn could pose a serious threat to humanity’s future.
A brief but urgent letter released Wednesday advocates for a global prohibition on the creation of “superintelligent” AI—machines capable of outperforming humans across virtually all cognitive domains—unless strict safety assurances and broad public support are in place.
“We call for a prohibition on the development of superintelligence, not lifted before there is broad scientific consensus that it will be done safely and controllably, and strong public buy-in,” the 30-word statement reads.
A Rare Alliance Across Political and Cultural Divides
Among the unexpected signatories are Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who joined an eclectic roster including AI legends Geoffrey Hinton and Yoshua Bengio, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, conservative commentators Steve Bannon and Glenn Beck, and celebrities like Stephen Fry, will.i.am, and actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
In a personal message attached to the letter, Prince Harry wrote, “The future of AI should serve humanity, not replace it. I believe the true test of progress will be not how fast we move, but how wisely we steer. There is no second chance.”
The campaign, organized by the Future of Life Institute, aims to influence global and national policymakers—including those in the U.S.—to introduce regulatory barriers to prevent unchecked development of so-called Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), or superintelligence.
The list of backers also includes former Irish President Mary Robinson, billionaire Richard Branson, former U.S. Joint Chiefs Chairman Mike Mullen, and Susan Rice, national security adviser under Barack Obama.
Even tech insiders like Gordon-Levitt, whose wife previously served on OpenAI’s board, voiced skepticism about current AI trajectories.
“We want AI that helps fight disease or improves security,” he wrote. “But does it also need to mimic humans, babysit our kids, addict us to content, and chase ad revenue? Most people don’t want that.”
Experts: This Isn’t a Pause—It’s a Red Flag
This latest warning stands apart from past AI moratoriums. Rather than proposing a temporary halt, it calls for a binding international ban—not to be lifted without rigorous scientific validation and democratic consent.
UC Berkeley professor and AI expert Stuart Russell clarified: “This isn’t your standard call for a pause. It’s a push to demand accountability and safety from those racing toward technology that even its creators admit could be catastrophic.”
Russell was joined by Hinton and Bengio, two pioneers who laid the foundations of modern AI but have since grown increasingly vocal about its darker implications. Hinton, notably, was awarded a Nobel Prize in Physics last year for his contributions.
An AI Race With No Finish Line in Sight
AI development has accelerated dramatically over the past half-decade, with tech giants such as Google, OpenAI, and Meta openly pursuing artificial general intelligence. Yet many experts warn that this technological arms race is happening faster than regulations can keep up.
Max Tegmark, physicist and president of the Future of Life Institute, said the movement reflects growing public alarm: “What was once a debate among researchers has entered the mainstream. People are waking up to the fact that the stakes are civilization-scale.”
Tegmark’s institute was also behind a 2023 open letter that asked developers to pause training on large-scale AI models. That call, signed by Elon Musk and others, was largely ignored—ironically, Musk was launching his own AI venture at the time.
Asked whether he again approached CEOs of top AI firms, Tegmark said he reached out to all major developers but didn’t expect them to endorse the effort.
“They’re trapped in a high-stakes race,” he said. “Everyone’s afraid of being left behind. That’s why this needs to stop being a business decision and start being a matter of public policy.”
