Researchers play down AI apocalypse fears, citing hurdles to creating a killer virus
Researchers are challenging the 'AI apocalypse' narrative, specifically regarding the creation of killer viruses, by highlighting the physical limitations of AI. Experts argue that digital design cannot bypass the complex biological requirements of manufacturing and testing pathogens in a lab.
Why it matters
This debate is central to the current discourse on AI safety, distinguishing between theoretical digital risks and practical physical threats.
There are fears that AI could create a lethal virus, but not all biologists are convinced. Wodicka/ullstein bild via Getty Images Warnings of an AI apocalypse have spread like wildfire since an Anthropic researcher quit last week. Jacob Coxon said OpenAI and Anthropic were "gambling with our lives" in the global AI race. Researchers say physical barriers make the bleakest outcomes, like a killer virus, less likely. Worried about an AI apocalypse? Some researchers say one of the most extreme versions of that scenario is overblown. The debate has reached a fever pitch in the week since Jacob Coxon, a 27-year-old researcher, quit Anthropic and warned that it and his other former employer, OpenAI, were " gambling with our lives " as they raced toward self-improving superintelligence.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in