A new open letter from the nonprofit Future of Life Institute has drawn support from over 800 public figures who want to stop the development of so-called “superintelligent” artificial intelligence. The group includes tech leaders, scientists, and celebrities who say AI should not move forward until it is proven safe and controllable.
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Signatories include Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Apple (AAPL) cofounder Steve Wozniak, Virgin Group founder Richard Branson, and Nobel Prize-winning researcher Geoffrey Hinton. The wide mix of names reflects growing unease about how quickly AI is advancing. The letter calls for a global ban on AI systems that could surpass human intelligence until there is a strong scientific and public consensus that such systems can be managed safely.
Industry Leaders in Focus
The statement directly mentions major players like Meta Platforms (META), OpenAI (PC:OPAIQ), and Alphabet (GOOGL) (GOOG), each of which is pursuing advanced AI models. Meta recently set aside about $15 billion to build a “superintelligence lab,” while OpenAI has described itself as a “superintelligence research company.”
Experts such as UC Berkeley’s Stuart Russell, who signed the letter, say the call is not a ban on AI research in general but a demand for proper safeguards. He noted that even companies creating these models have warned that future AI systems could pose real risks.
Polling released with the letter shows that 64% of Americans believe AI that exceeds human ability should not be developed until proven safe. Only 5% support rapid, unregulated progress.
A Divided Tech World
The appeal comes as the tech industry continues to split between those pushing AI innovation and those calling for stricter limits. While some firms argue that rapid development drives progress, others worry that superintelligent AI could lead to economic and social disruption.
The Future of Life Institute’s president, MIT professor Max Tegmark, said a simple idea unites the letter’s signatories: technology should serve people, not replace them. The public support for stronger AI rules may also add new pressure on companies like Meta and Alphabet to slow down their most ambitious AI goals.
For investors, the debate highlights both the promise and uncertainty surrounding AI’s next stage. The call for restraint may not stop major firms from investing, but it could shape how regulators, markets, and the public view the long-term risks of advanced AI.
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