‘I’ve watched the Terminator films, which play on our darkest fears about robots,’ said Mr Barbato. ‘Clearly, if a type of killer cyborg evolved, it might easily lead to a breakdown of morals and consciousness, the degradation of life and the disintegration of human civilisation.’
Our goal is to clarify the choices that will shape humanity’s long-term future.
L-R: Huw Price, Jaan Tallinn and Martin Rees. Photo credit: Dwayne Senior (copyright)
«we should even consider the sci-fi scenario that a network of computers could develop a mind of its own and threaten us --Martin Rees
With so much at stake, we need to do a better job of understanding the risks of potentially catastrophic --Huw Price
« Our instincts don’t care about saving the Universe » - Jaan Tallinn
The Centre for the Study of Existential Risk looks at the "four greatest threats to humanity," including rogue biotechnology.
« The seriousness of these risks is difficult to assess, but that in itself seems a cause for concern, given how much is at stake »
“Think how it might be to compete for resources with the dominant species,” says Price. “Take gorillas for example – the reason they are going extinct is not because humans are actively hostile towards them, but because we control the environments in ways that suit us, but are detrimental to their survival.”