Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Warn of 'No Second Chance' as They Issue New Statement On AI
While reports claim Prince William plans to strip the Sussexes and their children of royal titles through what sources call an ‘exclusive order,’ Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are steering their attention elsewhere. Instead of responding to the renewed tension within the House of Windsor, the two have joined forces with world leaders, tech founders, and artists in a campaign urging a global pause on the development of artificial intelligence. So, in a world where debates often circle who holds more power, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are speaking about the dangers of machines holding too much of it.
This week, both Harry and Meghan signed an open letter calling for a halt to AI superintelligence. The couple urged that no further development take place until it can be proven safe and supported by the public. The appeal, directed at companies such as Google, OpenAI, and Meta, warns against creating systems that could outperform humans in every cognitive task. "The future of AI should serve humanity, not replace it,” Harry wrote in his personal note, adding, "I believe the true test of progress will be not how fast we move, but how wisely we steer. There is no second chance.”
The open letter, which has also been endorsed by Stephen Fry, Sir Richard Branson, Will.i.am, and Steve Wozniak, emphasized the potential dangers of unchecked AI growth. It mentions fears of people losing jobs, freedom, and even control over their lives. Some even worry that the technology could one day endanger humanity itself. For the Sussexes, who have long championed mental health and digital safety through their Archewell Foundation, the message feels consistent with their earlier work. This warning also perfectly aligns with their ongoing criticism of technology’s impact on society and the individual mind.
Harry and Meghan have been out and about recently, supporting their friends as well as the causes they deeply believe in. While the Duchess of Sussex’s Paris trip was marred by a lot of controversies, she stepped out hand in hand with her husband to fetch the ‘Humanitarian of the Year’ award at the Project Healthy Minds Festival in New York City. During this event, Harry said that the digital world has “fundamentally changed how we experience reality.” Meanwhile, his wife noted how their foundation’s work with families affected by online harm aims to encourage healing through shared experience.
Their advocacy arrives as the royal household faces another round of scandal tied to Prince Andrew. While he has formally relinquished all of his remaining honors and titles, Virginia Giuffre’s newly released memoir, Nobody’s Girl, continues to shadow the monarchy. In her posthumous memoir, she allegedly wrote that the 65-year-old prince held a secret ‘code name’ within Jeffrey Epstein’s circle to conceal his identity. This, and several other revelations, reportedly made William and palace aides uneasy, prompting calls for King Charles to take a firm step. So, while Harry’s Spare itself dropped several bombshells about the royal family, it doesn’t come close to the wave of controversies that Andrew has stirred in the last couple of years.