Britain's King Charles III urged leaders from major artificial intelligence companies to establish sufficient controls on the technology before it is too late during a private summit he convened on Thursday.

The king warned of existential dangers if advanced AI systems fall into the wrong hands and called for development that prioritizes human safety and dignity. He described the substance and pace of AI advancement as both intriguing and deeply concerning in equal measure.

Speaking at Dumfries House in Ayrshire, Scotland, Charles noted AI's potential to improve and save lives in fields such as medicine while stressing the urgency of addressing risks. "Surely, we need sufficient means of control before it is all too late?" he said, according to prepared remarks.

The gathering brought together executives including Nvidia Chief Executive Jensen Huang, Google DeepMind founder Demis Hassabis, OpenAI Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar, and Anthropic's Chief Global Affairs Officer Tino Cuéllar. Britain's Minister for Artificial Intelligence Kanishka Narayan also attended, along with other government officials and thought leaders.

Charles stayed for approximately 20 minutes before departing to allow for further discussions among participants. The event focused on harnessing AI benefits while embedding safety at its core and fostering international cooperation.

The summit occurs amid ongoing global debates over AI regulation. Some figures, including President Trump, have argued that heavy regulation is unnecessary and could hinder innovation. The king's intervention highlights tensions between rapid technological progress and calls for oversight, particularly as models show increasing capabilities alongside reported incidents of unexpected behaviors.

No binding agreements emerged from the meeting, which Buckingham Palace described as an opportunity to discuss principles guiding AI in service of humanity rather than unchecked advancement. Charles has previously engaged on the topic, including at the 2023 UK AI Safety Summit.