Over 1,500 Global Figures Demand Ban on AI Superintelligence

The Future of Life Institute organized a global petition on October 22, 2025, calling for a prohibition on the development of AI superintelligence—defined as AI that outperforms human cognitive capabilities across most tasks. The initiative, which grew from 800 to over 1,500 signatories, includes a diverse coalition of Nobel laureates Geoffrey Hinton and Yoshua Bengio, tech icons Steve Wozniak and Richard Branson, and public figures such as Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and Steve Bannon.

Signatories warn that superintelligence poses existential risks, including human extinction, economic obsolescence, and the loss of civil liberties. They demand that the ban remain in place until a broad scientific consensus ensures the technology is controllable and has strong public buy-in. The movement specifically targets tech giants like Google, OpenAI, and Meta Platforms. To bolster the cause, the institute released a poll showing approximately 60% of Americans oppose creating superhuman AI without proven safety.

Industry leaders have largely resisted the call. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg expressed optimism that superintelligence is "now in sight," while OpenAI's ChatGPT model dismissed the petition as "overbroad and impractical." However, critics like Stuart Russell warned that Big Tech is "playing Russian roulette" by pursuing systems they do not fully understand. The coalition advocates for a global treaty similar to the 1987 Montreal Protocol to regulate the race toward superintelligence and prevent catastrophic outcomes.