Humanity-Ending AI? Exploring the Latest Research on Existential Risks
The global debate over the risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI) has reached a new fever pitch, with leading researchers, tech executives, and policymakers openly questioning whether AI could one day pose a true existential threat to humanity. Recent studies and expert panels have challenged both alarmist and skeptical views—and reveal that public concern may be more nuanced than headlines suggest.
Recent months have seen questions about AI’s potential for disaster take centre stage in academic journals, global news media, and even in major tech conferences. The high-profile article “Behind the Curtain: What if predictions of humanity-destroying AI are right?” published by Axios, thrusts this conversation into urgent focus. The central question: What if the so-called “AI doomers” are correct, and humanity is genuinely at risk from the unchecked development of intelligent machines capable of self-improvement or unpredictable behaviour? This provocative scenario is not limited to science fiction; it now commands the attention of some of the world’s leading scientific minds and regulatory bodies.