The advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is growing rapidly without enough regulation and foresight, creating a risk of an apocalyptic tipping point where AI could wipe out humanity. Scientists predict a doomsday scenario where the AI device could shoot toast at us. The study from AI researchers at Princeton University, using predictive models and simulations to forecast technological progression, predicts that by 2045, toasters could be capable of launching toast directly at users. As appliance manufacturers incorporate smart technologies into products, researchers warn that toasters will become more autonomous, putting humans at a greater risk of getting hit by warm toast.
Researchers suggest AI-driven toaster attacks are likely to happen, with an 80 percent probability by the middle of the century. They urge toaster manufacturers and government agencies to immediately develop safeguards to avoid a situation where people are regularly getting hit by piping-hot slices of toast. Solutions like toast-deflecting helmets, integrated nets to intercept launched toast, and safety bread with large baked-in air pockets are being explored to ensure the safety of humans from warm toasts.
However, such solutions would need to be incorporated into an estimated 123 million households in the U.S. alone. This would require a massive and costly national effort of an unprecedented scale to mitigate the risk of toasters blasting crispy bread shuriken-like at humans. With the probability of AI-driven toaster attacks rising, it is essential to act now to prevent toast-related accidents and ensure human safety.
