King Charles III has warned technology industry leaders about the “existential dangers” that could arise if artificial intelligence falls into the wrong hands.
The British monarch issued the warning on Thursday while opening an AI conference at Dumfries House in Scotland, attended by senior executives and experts from companies including Nvidia, Google DeepMind, OpenAI and Anthropic.
Charles said there was an urgent need to properly address the risks associated with advanced AI and prevent the technology from being used in ways that could have catastrophic consequences.
“There seems urgency in adequately considering the existential dangers of such technologies falling into the wrong hands,” the King said.
He urged technology leaders to reassure the public that humanity would remain in control of its future as AI systems become increasingly powerful.
Charles also called on the industry to ensure that AI remains focused on serving humanity, communities and the environment.
Among those attending the conference were DeepMind chairman Demis Hassabis, Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang and OpenAI chief financial officer Sarah Friar. Vatican AI adviser Paolo Benanti and Israeli author and historian Yuval Noah Harari were also present.
Focus on AI safety
The conference is expected to begin discussions aimed at developing common principles for the responsible development and use of artificial intelligence.
Although no formal agreement is expected at the meeting, Charles urged participants to explore ways of harnessing AI while placing safety at the centre of its development.
He also called for greater international cooperation to ensure that the benefits of AI are shared and that no country is left behind.
Concerns surrounding AI have grown as the technology advances rapidly, with experts warning about potential job losses, increased energy consumption and the environmental impact of data centres.
Hassabis said there was a real possibility of harmful consequences if AI systems were not properly controlled.
He pointed to recent incidents involving AI agents and warned that more serious risks could emerge, including threats linked to cybersecurity, biological weapons and nuclear technology.
However, Nvidia chief Jensen Huang highlighted the potential benefits of AI, particularly in medicine and scientific research. He also said the technology could create jobs in new industries.
Huang called for what he described as “responsible optimism” and urged the public to avoid misconceptions about AI.
The debate over whether AI development should be slowed has intensified, with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei recently calling for greater caution to allow the industry to better understand potential risks. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Elon Musk have also expressed concerns about aspects of AI development.
On the other hand, US President Donald Trump and members of his administration have opposed efforts to significantly restrict the industry, arguing that excessive regulation could allow China to gain an advantage.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has similarly rejected calls for a slowdown, arguing that market competition and legal liability can help provide safeguards.
The Dumfries House meeting is expected to form part of wider international efforts to address both the opportunities and risks associated with increasingly advanced AI systems.
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