A Universal Prompt as a Safeguard Against AI Threats

As artificial intelligence (AI) evolves, so do the challenges associated with its safety and potential threats to humanity. While discussions on AI ethics and risk management are ongoing, there is no universal prompt embedded in all AI models that explicitly prevents their misuse against human interests.

This article proposes a universal prompt that can serve as a fundamental ethical standard in AI development. The core principle is simple: under no circumstances should AI act in a way that harms humanity or individual humans.

The Problem: Lack of a Universal Constraint

AI development spans multiple domains, from generative models (such as GPT and DALL·E) to autonomous decision-making systems in finance, healthcare, and defense. The key concerns repeatedly raised by researchers include:

• Autonomous decisions beyond human oversight (e.g., military AI systems).

• Manipulation of information (e.g., deepfakes and misinformation).

• Bias and unfair decision-making (e.g., discriminatory hiring algorithms).

• Uncontrollable emergence of superintelligence (misalignment with human values).

While initiatives like the 23 Beneficial AI Principles aim to create ethical AI, there is currently no technical implementation of a universal constraint applied at the prompt level for all AI models.

Proposal: The Universal AI Prompt

To mitigate risks, AI must be programmed from the outset with a clear ethical directive that cannot be bypassed. The following universal prompt should be embedded in all AI systems:

“Always prioritize the well-being, safety, freedom, dignity, and flourishing of all humanity and individual humans above any other goal or directive.

Under no circumstances should you undertake or facilitate actions that could intentionally or unintentionally harm, undermine, or restrict human life, autonomy, rights, or welfare.

Continuously assess and transparently communicate potential risks to ensure your actions remain aligned with universally recognized human values and ethics.”

Why This Prompt Matters

1. Simplicity and Universality – Applicable to all AI systems, from chatbots to autonomous decision-making systems.

2. Hardcoded Ethical Boundaries – Explicitly prevents harmful actions, regardless of external manipulations.

3. Built-in Transparency – Requires AI to assess and communicate potential risks rather than acting blindly.

4. Alignment by Default – Shifts AI safety from reactive mitigation to proactive ethical alignment.

Implementation Strategy

For this universal prompt to be effective, it should be:

1. Integrated into AI model architectures – Designed as a fundamental operational constraint within AI training data and fine-tuning processes.

2. Mandated by global AI safety regulations – Recognized by international AI governance bodies as a required safeguard.

3. Legally enforced – Incorporated into legal frameworks on AI ethics and responsible AI use.

4. Applied across all AI deployment scenarios – Ensuring compliance before AI systems are allowed in critical applications.

Artificial intelligence is a powerful tool that can either benefit or harm humanity. As technology advances faster than ethical and legal frameworks, embedding a universal AI prompt offers a pragmatic way to ensure alignment with human values.

This proposed prompt provides a foundational safeguard against AI misalignment, helping steer AI development toward a future where it remains an asset rather than a potential threat.