Can artificial intelligence destroy humanity?

Scientists warn of three possible scenarios for the future of humanity.

The first scenario is misuse: people could use powerful artificial intelligence as a weapon. For example, it can help in the development of deadly viruses or in cyberattacks on the power grid.

The second scenario is the loss of control: the systems could become smarter than people and pursue their own goals. The Nobel Prize winner Geoffrey Hinton believes that this risk is serious.

The third scenario is slower: people gradually hand over important decisions to machines. In this way humanity could lose control without a single dramatic catastrophe.

However, some scientists believe that such warnings distract attention from the real problems. They mention disinformation, the loss of jobs and the enormous consumption of electricity and water in data centres. For now, all three scenarios remain assumptions, not proven forecasts.