Experts are warning that humanity could face another “Chernobyl” moment if the development of artificial intelligence (AI) is not slowed down. The warning comes as bosses of major AI companies, including Elon Musk, have called for more rules to halt AI's rapid progress, fearing it could be used to develop weapons or go haywire and hack security systems.
The concerns follow a statement from the “Godfather of AI” last week, who said there was a 10 percent chance the technology could “kill all humans” by 2036. However, US President Donald Trump said “a lot of negative forces” are “bringing up things that won’t happen” when asked if he will introduce new regulations.
Experts Warn of Catastrophe
Dame Wendy Hall, director of the Web Science Institute at the University of Southampton, told Sky News: “I don't think [AI could cause] the extinction of the human race, but definitely major catastrophes, unintended maybe, or accidental. But we don't want to have our Chernobyl moment for AI.”
A major crisis hit Ukraine in 1986 when a reactor from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant exploded, forcing thousands from their homes forever and creating a massive ‘no go zone’ policed by the army.
Urgency Compared to Climate Change
Another expert said humanity should be more worried about curbing AI than responding to climate change. Martin Rees, a member of Cambridge University's Centre for the Study of Existential Risk, also told Sky News: “I think it's something that needs to be tackled more urgently because climate change is a real phenomenon and, if it's unchecked for 50 or 100 years, it will change the biosphere and the climate in most countries substantially.
“But it won't kill us all. And, it's not going to happen in a drastic way in a few years. These techniques could any day now create a catastrophe which would for instance, knock out the grid in a large city of Europe, or supply chains could be destroyed.
“And if a city is deprived of energy and food and water for even a few days, that would lead to a breakdown in society.”
UK Government Response
In the UK, top Labour minister Angela Rayner said she was “pleased [AI] companies are also talking about the threats” in response to the warnings. Describing the UK as “world leaders” in AI security, the Housing Secretary added: “We have put robust systems in place here in the UK, like the AI Security Institute, to make sure we’re building resilience so that we get the benefit as well as really understand and protect against any risk.”
