Everybody Wants AI to Destroy the World
This piece explores the cultural anxiety surrounding the potential for artificial intelligence to cause catastrophic harm. It reflects on historical fears of destruction, comparing nuclear anxieties to modern concerns about AI safety.
Why it matters
It captures the psychological and societal impact of rapid AI development and the existential risks perceived by some researchers.
An Anthropic researcher quit his job because he believes it will. His story is going viral because you want to believe too.
Illustration by Liz Sanders. Sources: PhotoQuest / Getty; Keystone / Getty; Keystone France / Getty September 10, 2026, 2:35 PM ET Share Save T he sky streaked orange and red as my mother drove us home to Albuquerque through the Tijeras Pass, which separates the Sandia Mountains to the north from the Manzano to the south. “Look out for mushroom clouds,” my father said to her. “If you see them, turn around.”
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