A look at AI doomsday scenarios that researchers say could put humanity at risk

The useful part

Debates inside the AI industry and beyond over the plausibility of these doomsday scenarios have heated up since several executives endorsed slowing the technology's development for safety reasons. Still, more people are beginning to worry about the risks of the technology that has dazzled the world with its astounding capabilities. For years, artificial intelligence researchers have warned of ways the technology could wipe out humanity: AI bots could design an unstoppable disease, unleash a nuclear war or transform all of Earth into paper clip factories, as one thought experiment goes.

How it works

• For years, artificial intelligence researchers have warned of ways the technology could wipe out humanity: AI bots could design an unstoppable disease, unleash a nuclear war or transform all of Earth into...
• Despite warnings of the potential for humans to lose their grip on the technology, some suspect the worst-case scenarios described by the AI companies themselves have more to do with validating the...
• I think they're sci-fi and they're enticing to a certain childish style of thinking and it's very tempting for the frontier labs because it helps them recruit certain types of folks," said Juan Andrés...

Details worth keeping

"These arguments just don't really hold water.