Over 700 leading scientists, global figures, and celebrities, including Prince Harry, Richard Branson, and Steve Bannon, have called for an immediate halt to the development of artificial intelligence systems capable of surpassing human intelligence. Their joint appeal, published by the Future of Life Institute, urges governments and companies to prohibit the creation of “superintelligent” AI until it is proven to be safe, controllable, and publicly accepted.
The open letter emphasizes growing concerns over artificial general intelligence (AGI) — a stage where AI could match or exceed human cognitive abilities. The signatories argue that rushing toward such technology without global regulation poses severe risks to humanity. Notable AI pioneers, including Nobel laureate Geoffrey Hinton, UC Berkeley Professor Stuart Russell, and AI scientist Yoshua Bengio, are among the experts supporting the initiative.
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Public figures and global leaders have also lent their voices to the campaign. The list includes Virgin Group founder Richard Branson, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, former US presidential adviser Steve Bannon, and former national security adviser Susan Rice. Religious voices, including Vatican AI expert Paolo Benanti, and celebrities such as Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and musician will.i.am, have echoed the call for ethical restraint and transparency in AI development.
The letter follows growing fears about the uncontrolled race among major tech companies to achieve superintelligence. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently suggested that this level of AI advancement could be reached within the next five years. However, experts warn that such progress, without clear boundaries or international oversight, could lead to unpredictable and irreversible consequences for society.
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The Future of Life Institute and its co-founders stress that while AI has immense potential for science, medicine, and productivity, its reckless development threatens human jobs, privacy, and safety. They have urged world leaders to create an international agreement on AI “red lines” by 2026 to prevent misuse and ensure responsible innovation. The initiative marks one of the strongest global appeals yet to slow down the race toward superintelligent AI before it’s too late.