The fear that machines will eventually take over humanity has long been a popular theme in science fiction. Recently, this fear has been brought closer to reality with the rapid advancements in consumer-level artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Generative AI, which has been causing excitement and apprehension, has left many people uneasy about where the future of this nascent tech is headed. However, the idea that AI will wipe out humanity is unlikely to happen soon. A nonprofit group has released a short statement stating that society should take AI as seriously as an existential threat, such as nuclear war or pandemics. In this episode of Gadget Lab, Will Knight, a senior writer at WIRED, discusses how dangerous AI really is and what measures can be put in place to prevent the robot apocalypse.
WIRED is a monthly American magazine that focuses on how technology affects culture, economy, and politics. WIRED has been recognized for its technology coverage with several National Magazine Awards and Webby Awards.
Will Knight is a senior writer for AI at WIRED, where he covers the companies, research, and applications that are shaping the future of artificial intelligence. He regularly contributes to a range of WIRED’s print and online platforms.
