Hundreds of Prominent Figures Call for a Ban on the Development of Superintelligent AI

SadaNews - More than 850 public figures and technical experts, including Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and Virgin founder Richard Branson, have signed a statement calling for a halt to the development of what is known as superintelligent AI, a form of artificial intelligence expected to surpass human capabilities in all cognitive fields.

The statement, published on Wednesday, carries the signatures of several early pioneers of artificial intelligence, including scientists Yoshua Bengio and Geoff Hinton, who are referred to as the "fathers of modern AI," as well as Professor Stuart Russell from the University of California, Berkeley, according to a report published by the "CNBC" network, which was seen by "Al-Arabiya Business."

The statement notes that the pursuit of building superintelligence raises serious concerns ranging from widespread unemployment and the erosion of individual liberties to loss of control over systems, as well as threats to national security and even humanity's survival.

The signatories called for a temporary ban on the development of superintelligence until a broad scientific consensus and clear public support are reached that confirms the possibility of developing it safely and under supervision.

The list of signatories includes a wide range of figures from academia, media, religion, and politics, including former U.S. officials such as Mike Mullen, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Susan Rice, the former national security adviser.

The list also included prominent conservative media figures such as Steve Bannon and Glenn Beck, supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump, indicating that concerns about AI transcend partisan divisions.

The statement also drew attention with the participation of Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle among the signatories, reflecting the widening resistance to accelerating AI development without safeguards.

This move comes at a time when major tech companies such as "OpenAI," Elon Musk's "xAI," and "Meta" are competing to develop more advanced language models, with the latter even establishing a dedicated division called "Superintelligence Labs."

While some view these developments as paving the way for a new era of innovation, others warn that humanity may be on the verge of crossing a technological red line from which there is no return.