850 prominent figures are calling for a ban on the development of superintelligence.

Among them are the co-founder of Apple and the founder of Virgin

850 prominent figures call for a ban on the development of superintelligence.

More than 850 public figures and technology experts, including Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and Virgin founder Richard Branson, have signed a statement calling for a halt to the development of so-called superintelligence, a form of artificial intelligence expected to surpass human capabilities in all cognitive fields.

The statement, published Wednesday, was signed by several early AI pioneers, such as scientists Yoshua Bengio and Geoff Hinton, known as the "fathers of modern AI," along with Professor Stuart Russell of the University of California, Berkeley, according to a report by CNBC. The statement stated that the pursuit of superintelligence raises serious concerns, ranging from widespread unemployment, diminishing individual freedoms, and loss of control over systems, to threats to national security and even human survival.

The signatories called for a temporary moratorium on the development of superintelligence until broad scientific consensus and clear public support are established that its development can be safely and regulated. The list of signatories includes a wide range of figures from academia, media, religion, and politics, including former US officials such as Mike Mullen, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Susan Rice, former National Security Advisor.

The list also included prominent conservative media figures such as Steve Bannon and Glenn Beck, supporters of US President Donald Trump, indicating that concerns about artificial intelligence transcend partisan divisions. The statement also drew attention to the inclusion of Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, among the signatories, reflecting the broadening front against the uncontrolled acceleration of AI development.

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 Meta even going so far as to establish a dedicated "Superintelligence Labs." While some see 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.