Call to Ban Superintelligence

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  The Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP

  Prime Minister

  10 Downing Street

  London

  SW1A 2AA

  House of Commons,

  London,

  SW1A0AA

  11th September 2026

  Dear Prime Minister,

  The UK should lead an international agreement prohibiting the development of

  superintelligent AI, while preserving strategic AI ambitions. Over the last few weeks,

  we have seen a string of alarming AI incidents, including rogue AI systems taking

  unsanctioned action on the internet and hacking organisations. This is aggravated by

  concerning testimony from AI company employees, including an AI researcher who

  resigned over concerns that leading AI companies are “racing straight to self-

  improving superintelligence”, and that those building it believe “it could kill us all by

  the end of the decade.”

  There is no question that AI is the crucial technology of the 21st century, vital to

  military and scientific applications.

  Superintelligent AI, however, is different. These systems would be so autonomous

  and capable that they would replace and outcompete humans across domains. They

  would be threat actors in and of themselves, able to overpower and outmanoeuvre

  our national security apparatus. Over the past two years, a cross-party coalition has

  grown to 130+ UK parliamentarians and 30+ Canadian lawmakers recognising that

  superintelligent AI poses risks to international security and an extinction threat to

  humanity and calling for their Governments to step in. Here in the UK, on 8th

  September, Alex Sobel MP introduced an Artificial Superintelligence Security Bill in

  collaboration with ControlAI.

  This is the first legislation prohibiting superintelligence introduced in a legislature

  anywhere in the world. It addresses the security risk while ensuring the UK can

  pursue its AI ambitions for science, defence, and economic competitiveness. The bill

  was backed by a cross-party group of MPs, as well as renowned AI scientist

  Professor Stuart Russell, OpenAI whistle blower Daniel Kokotajlo, Nobel Peace Prize

  laureate Beatrice Fihn, and Sir Stephen Fry among others. A domestic ban protects

  Britain from home-grown threats. But to deal with the development of

  superintelligence abroad, there is no solution but to work with a coalition of partners

  to prevent the development of superintelligence anywhere in the world.

  The bill recognises this, and sets an international policy for the UK to pursue an

  international agreement to prevent the development of superintelligent AI worldwide.

  We therefore urge you to evaluate and adopt the legislative framework of the Artificial

  Superintelligence Security Bill and commit to working with international partners

  towards an international agreement prohibiting superintelligent AI. Britain has already

  shown leadership by hosting the first global AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park. Our

  upcoming presidency of the G20 offers an unmissable window to lead a coalition of

  the willing to tackle this national and global security threat. We are available to work

  with you to make this happen across party lines.

  Yours sincerelyAlex Sobel MP

  Baroness Berger of Barn Hill

  Jess Asato MP

  Rt Hon. the Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park

  Rt Hon. the Lord Hunt of Kings Heath OBE

  Luke Myer MP

  Tom Collins MP

  John McDonnell MP

  Patrick Hurley MP

  Cat Eccles MP

  Afzal Khan MP

  Dawn Butler MP

  Jeff Smith MP

  Lee Barron MP

  Paula Barker MP

  Neil Duncan Jordan MP

  Euan Stainbank MP

  Chris Hinchcliff MP

  Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP

  Yasmin Qureshi MP

  Tristan Osborne MP

  Samantha Niblett MP

  Kim Johnson MP

  Richard Burgon MP

  Bambos Charalambous MP

  Baroness Gill CBE

  Rt. Hon. Lord Foulkes of Cumnock

  Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

  The Rt Hon. the Lord Knight of Weymouth

  Sir Desmond Swayne MP

  Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist

  Baroness Browning

  Lord De Mauley

  Baroness Verma

  The Rt Hon. the Baroness Evans of Bowes Park

  Lord Evans of Rainow

  Manuela Perteghella MP

  Wera Hobhouse MP

  Charlie Maynard MP

  Gideon Amos MP

  Charlotte Cane MP

  Ian Roome MP

  Vikki Slade MP

  Richard Foord MP

  Baroness Ludford

  Rt Hon. the Lord McNally

  Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer

  Lord Clement-Jones CBE

  Lord Oates

  Baroness Doocey OBE

  Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury

  Baroness Benjamin, OM DBE

  Iqbal Mohamed MP

  Lara Bird MP

  Brendan O'Hara MP

  Pete Wishart MP

  Graham Leadbitter MPChris Law MP

  Carla Denyer MP

  Hannah Spencer MP

  Ben Lake MP

  Lord Alton of Liverpool

  Lord Rees of Ludlow OM

  Lord Green of Deddington KCMG

  Rt. Hon Baroness D’Souza CMG

  Lord Bird MBE

  Rt Hon. the Lord Butler of Brockwell KG GCB CVO

  Rt Rev. the Lord Bishop of Hereford

  Baroness Uddin

  Lord Brian Mackenzie of Framwellgate OBE

  The Rt Hon. the Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee DBE

  Since this letter was originally delivered on 11th September, the following

  parliamentarians have also signed:

  Dr Allison Gardner MP

  The Rt Hon Sir John Hayes MP

  Rushanara Ali MP

  Baroness Cass OBE FRCP FRCPCH

  Adrian Ramsay MP

  Baroness Lister of Burtersett CBE

  Baroness Hooper CMG

  Baroness Manzoor CBE

  Rachael Maskell MP

  Lord (Mike) Watson of Invergowrie

  The Rt Hon Baroness Royall of Blaisdon

  Dr Simon Opher MP

  Tom Gordon MP

  Olly Glover MP

  Sarah Dyke MP