ControlAI

What it does

Campaigning organisation working for a prohibition on the development of superintelligent AI. Three functions: public education (newsletter with 148,000+ readers), grassroots advocacy (tooling that helps tens of thousands contact their elected representatives), and direct policymaker briefing — claims 400+ lawmakers briefed since November 2024, with 160+ cross-party UK MPs and Peers and 35+ Canadian lawmakers having endorsed its statement.

What they ask for — in their own terms

Governments should pass binding law prohibiting the development of superintelligent AI, and coordinate internationally to enforce that prohibition.

What they do

Lawmaker briefings and a model bill; a mass newsletter (claims 148,000+ subscribers); media work; a constituent-to-legislator contact tool; organised a letter from 70+ cross-party UK MPs and Peers to the Prime Minister asking the government to evaluate its bill.

Honest assessment

Small, fast-moving, and it answers its email. Best-in-class if your goal is to get a loss-of-control concern in front of a legislator. It will not engage with bias, privacy or labour concerns.

What a newcomer can do

Use the contact tool at act.controlai.org to email or write to your lawmakers asking them to back a ban on superintelligence development; subscribe to the weekly newsletter; ask to join a local action group.

Worth knowing

Its own action page says '205+ lawmakers support our campaign'; its homepage breaks that down as 160+ UK and 35+ Canadian lawmakers, plus 400+ lawmakers briefed across four countries. 'Support' means signing a campaign statement, not voting for a bill — no such bill has passed. The ask is a prohibition, not regulation; joining means endorsing a ban. Small donors are effectively not wanted.

Concerns it covers

Extinction risk from superintelligence, narrowly. Its stated position is that superintelligence could arrive before 2030 with no known containment method. No engagement with near-term harms.

Government channel

Direct and unusually effective for its size — its core product is legislator briefings, and it has secured named cross-party endorsements in three parliaments.

Tips

No public tip line; offers briefings to lawmakers and journalists via hello@controlai.com

Where they work

UK, US, Canada, Germany. UK not-for-profit company limited by guarantee; US 501(c)(4).

Size

Roughly 20+ staff and advisors listed on its About page. Well-resourced relative to most groups here.

Spending

Not disclosed. Homepage states it is 'only accepting substantial donations, except in special cases' — i.e. it is not running a small-donor programme.