Because of artificial intelligence: researchers fear human extinction | Life & Knowledge

2024-01-05 10:27:59

Artificial intelligence is taking up more and more space in our lives. And there is always the fear of whether people will become superfluous at some point.

Many experts even believe that the future development of superhuman AI could cause the extinction of humanity.

AI advances could destroy humanity

In a survey of 2,700 AI researchers, almost 58 percent said they would definitely consider human extinction. The probability is only 5 percent. But that is still very frightening.

“It is an important signal that most AI researchers do not consider it implausible that advanced AI is destroying humanity,” says researcher Katja Grace.

► Participants were asked to share their thoughts on possible timelines for future AI technology milestones and their implications.

In 2016, researchers predicted that artificial intelligence would reach certain milestones sooner than previously thought. And they were right! ChatGPT celebrated its debut in November 2022, followed by other AI chatbot services.

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Revolution in many areas of life

► Researchers believe there is at least a 50 percent chance that AI systems will be able to write new songs.

However, other tasks will probably take longer. For example, the installation of electrical cables.

By 2047, an AI could be developed that outperforms humans in every task. The risk is 50 percent. By 2116, all human activities could even be completely automated – with a probability of 50 percent.

► That’s a full 48 years earlier than expected in a previous survey from 2022!

Possible dangers of artificial intelligence

70 percent of AI researchers are concerned about the potential dangers of artificial intelligence. Experts consider deepfakes, the manipulation of public opinion and artificial weapons to be extremely worrying.

AI could also contribute to false information, warns researcher Émile Torres from the Case Western Reserve University. “We already have the technology here and now that could seriously undermine democracy.”