At the Queen Elizabeth Engineering Prize (QEPrize) ceremony held at St James’s Palace in London, King Charles III handed a letter on the safety of artificial intelligence to NVIDIA co-founder and CEO Jensen Huang. The exchange took place as the monarch honored seven engineers recognized for their pioneering advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning. According to the BBC, the King’s message reiterated his continued concern about the rapid pace of AI development and the risks associated with its misuse. The exchange follows remarks made by King Charles at the 2023 AI Safety Summit, where he called for global cooperation to ensure that AI technologies are deployed responsibly.
King Charles hands Jensen Huang a personal letter on AI safety
The Queen Elizabeth Engineering Awards ceremony recognized the 2025 winners for their contributions to breakthrough innovations in artificial intelligence. King Charles presented the award to each recipient and personally spoke to them about their achievements. When he met Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, the king handed him a sealed letter and said, “I need to talk to you.” Hwang later told reporters he would read the letter carefully, adding that the king “clearly attaches great importance to the safety of AI” and ensuring that the technology is developed for the benefit of society, not the detriment of AI.
Contents of the King’s letter on AI
According to the BBC, the letter that King Charles handed to Mr Huang referred to the king’s previous speech at the 2023 AI Safety Summit held at Bletchley Park. In his speech, he warned of the “extraordinary potential and serious risks” of artificial intelligence and called on world leaders and technology companies to put human values at the center of AI development. The contents of the letter have not been made public, but it is understood to reiterate the same themes and encourage developers to act with foresight, accountability and an awareness of the social impact of their work. Huang described the letter as a “meaningful reminder” that the power of AI must be guided by human ethics.
The King’s position on AI safety and innovation
King Charles’ approach to AI issues reflects broader efforts by world leaders to understand and regulate the rapid evolution of technology. At the QE Prize ceremony, the king reportedly told guests that the pace at which new technologies are emerging is “amazingly fast” and that society must ensure that AI “serves humanity rather than endangers it.” The monarch’s perspective is rooted in concerns about how AI will affect jobs, misinformation, war, and social stability. His comments echo calls from policymakers and experts for a stronger international framework to govern AI development.
Broader significance of the event
The king’s exchange with Nvidia’s chief executive officer represented an unusual intersection between engineering evaluation and public advocacy. The Queen Elizabeth Engineering Awards were established to celebrate innovation that benefits humanity, and the inclusion of AI pioneers among this year’s winners reflects the growing importance of the technology across industries. Nvidia, whose chips power most of today’s AI systems, has become a central figure in the debate about both the potential and ethical responsibilities of artificial intelligence. King Charles handed the letter directly to Fan, emphasizing that the issue of AI safety is no longer confined to policy councils and academia, but is now part of the mainstream global leadership dialogue.
Public and industry reaction
The king’s comments and gestures after the ceremony attracted widespread attention in technology and policy circles. Industry analysts said the exchange highlighted the need for cooperation between innovators and regulators. Feifei Li said in an interview that a brief conversation with the king touched on “how AI can be developed for people, not just for the technology itself.”The BBC noted that although the king’s role is ceremonial, his consistent interest in issues such as climate change, sustainability, and even AI points to his growing interest in the governance of emerging technologies.
Restrictions and what remains unpublished
As the BBC reported, the contents of the king’s letter have not been made public, and it is unclear whether it contained specific recommendations or was primarily symbolic. It’s also unclear whether the letter is part of broader communications with other technology leaders or specific to Nvidia. The royal family has not released an official statement regarding the details of the exchange. But the gesture is consistent with the king’s pattern of informally engaging with scientists and experts on topics of global concern.
