--- title: "Open Letter: An Urgent Call to Pause AI Development Beyond GPT-4" description: AI systems should be developed only once we are confident that their effects will be positive, and their risks will be manageable. image: https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/Open%20Letter.jpg --- [Skip to main content](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/open-letter-an-urgent-call-to-pause-ai-development-beyond-gpt-4#maincontent) [ «  View All Posts ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog) # Open Letter: An Urgent Call to Pause AI Development Beyond GPT-4 April 3rd, 2023 1 min read By [David Meerman Scott](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/author/david-meerman-scott) ![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Open%20Letter.jpg?width=1946&height=1312&name=Open%20Letter.jpg) This morning, I signed an [Open Letter](https://futureoflife.org/open-letter/pause-giant-ai-experiments/), putting my name together with academics, researchers, and business people calling on all Artificial Intelligence labs to immediately pause for at least 6 months the training of AI systems more powerful than [GPT-4](https://openai.com/product/gpt-4). As I’ve written in [my series of articles on AI](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/artificial-intelligence) this year, I am a fan of what AI can do. I’m an advisor or investor in several AI companies and I use AI tools every single day to make my work easier and better. AI [helps me](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/unlocking-the-potential-of-ai-for-use-with-your-own-content) automate routine tasks like transcription, summarization, brainstorming headlines (including the one for this article), editing, and much more. However, AI also has potential danger, something I’ve written about extensively, especially the profound effects that the Meta and Google AI programs powering YouTube and Facebook have on society. I call the Facebook AI algorithm one of the most destructive technologies ever invented. [Here’s why](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/facebook-ai-algorithm-is-destructive). The Open Letter says that powerful AI systems should be developed only once we are confident that their effects will be positive, and their risks will be manageable. You can read the entire Open Letter [here](https://futureoflife.org/open-letter/pause-giant-ai-experiments/) and I encourage you to do so. The Open Letter begins:* AI systems with human-competitive intelligence can pose profound risks to society and humanity, as shown by extensive research and acknowledged by top AI labs. As stated in the widely-endorsed Asilomar AI Principles, Advanced AI could represent a profound change in the history of life on Earth, and should be planned for and managed with commensurate care and resources. Unfortunately, this level of planning and management is not happening, even though recent months have seen AI labs locked in an out-of-control race to develop and deploy ever more powerful digital minds that no one – not even their creators – can understand, predict, or reliably control.* We are living through a critically important moment in human history. Technology has become increasingly powerful throughout our lifetimes, and we are now going through perhaps the most profound transformation ever. AI has the power to go immense good for society. However, it will also disrupt hundreds of millions of lives, including the elimination of countless jobs, while adding other opportunities. We need to enter this new era with open eyes, minds, and hearts. [ David Meerman Scott ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/author/david-meerman-scott) David Meerman Scott is a business growth strategist, advisor to clever entrepreneurs who are building emerging companies, and the international bestselling author of a dozen books published in 30 languages. David’s high-energy keynote presentations, masterclasses, and virtual events educate, energize, and inspire. Connect: [mailto:david@freshspot.com](mailto:david@freshspot.com) Topics: [ Marketing ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/marketing) [ Facebook ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/facebook) [ Research and Analysis ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/research-and-analysis) [ YouTube ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/youtube) [ Artificial Intelligence ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/artificial-intelligence) Don't forget to share this post: ## Related Articles [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Fanocracy%202e.jpg?width=1500&height=841&name=Fanocracy%202e.jpg) ### New 2nd Edition of Fanocracy Publishes Today: Your Human Connection in a Polarized, Noisy World July 14th, 2026|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/new-2nd-edition-of-fanocracy-publishes-today-your-human-connection-in-a-polarized-noisy-world) 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