Skip to content
The best new electronics. — Superintelligence — Risks — Ongoing — Anthropic claude google gemini meta llama microsoft copilot — Doomsday clock — Artificial intelligence ai — Existensial risk — Openai chatgpt gpt-4o o1 o3 — End of times cataclysmic — Einstein midnight scienistis — Large language model llm — Clock — Generative ai — Predictions future agi asi superintelligence — Aussiedlerbote

Influence of Artificial Intelligence on the Notorious Doomsday Clock Ticking

The Doomsday Clock has been shifted, drawing nearer to the stroke of midnight (which signifies danger). While artificial intelligence wasn't the primary influencer, its influence is undeniably growing significant. Let me enlighten you on the details.

,   and  Administrator
4 min read
A clock boasting a round shape with alternating black and white hues, finds its hour and minute...
A clock boasting a round shape with alternating black and white hues, finds its hour and minute hands both nearing the 12 o'clock marker. This visualization symbolizes upcoming due dates, deadlines, countdowns, and the ominous notion of doomsday.

Influence of Artificial Intelligence on the Notorious Doomsday Clock Ticking

In today's column, I'm diving into the latest status of the famed Doomsday Clock, a symbol warning of humanity's potential slide towards oblivion. Although AI isn't yet integral to the clock's tick-tock movement, I argue it won't be long before it is.

Let's get into it.

My analysis of AI's implications is an extension of my ongoing 'Our Website' column covering the latest in AI. There, I delve into identifying and explaining various AI complexities (check it out here).

Doomsday Clock in the Spotlight

You might be familiar with the Doomsday Clock as a symbol of humanity moving closer to catastrophe. The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists recently announced a disturbing development: the countdown has moved even closer to the brink. The primary reasons for this include nuclear armaments, bioweapons, climate change, and the advent of advanced AI[1].

In past decades, the Doomsday Clock was given more attention. Today's youth might view it as an outdated relic more than a significant concern, considering its historical roots. Yet, media outlets still give the annual change of status remarkable coverage, and many remain keenly interested[1].

### More to Explore- What you should know about Pentagon cuts- Lawsuits against Trump and Musk- Trump firing the military's top general

Doomsday Clock Background

The Doomsday Clock was born in 1947 due to concerns raised by scientists like Albert Einstein and J. Robert Oppenheimer about the longevity of mankind in light of the atomic bomb. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists created it as a global symbol representing the countdown to humanity's perceived extinction[1].

The Doomsday Clock began at 7 minutes until midnight in 1947, and the minute hand is adjusted each year based on assessments of whether humanity is heading toward survival or self-destruction[1].

Critical Turning Points

The Doomsday Clock was at its most optimistic point in 1991, with the Cold War declared over. At that time, the clock was set to 17 minutes to midnight, providing the widest window ever[1].

More recent time settings are as follows:- 2023: 90 seconds to midnight- 2022: 100 seconds to midnight (no change)- 2021: 100 seconds to midnight (no change)- 2020: 100 seconds to midnight- 2019: 2 minutes to midnight (no change)- 2018: 2 minutes to midnight- 2017: 2 1/2 minutes to midnight- 2016: 3 minutes to midnight (no change)- 2015: 3 minutes to midnight

Observe how we moved from 3 minutes to midnight in 2015 to 90 seconds in 2023[1].

Minute Hand Adjustment

I invite you to consider the ten-year span from 2015 to 2023. Was the minute hand's movement closer to midnight warranted? Or should it still be at the 3-minute mark? Share your thoughts.

For 2024, the minute hand's movement was announced in January 2025. The statement, titled "Closer than ever: It is now 89 seconds to midnight," outlined various factors contributing to this alarming tendency[2][5].

AI - The Doomsday Clock's New Threat?

The formal announcement also referred to AI as an emerging concern. Although it didn't play a significant role in determining the minute hand's movement this time, AI is predicted to become a significant factor in the future[2][5].

The announcement noted the potential dangers of AI in warfare, especially its application to nuclear weapons. It highlighted AI's disruptive nature, warning that any threat to humanity must be enabled by a device that can change the physical world or human decisions about it[2][5].

Handling AI as a Dual-Use Technology

Here are five key aspects to consider regarding AI as a dual-use technology:- (1) AI encompasses more than just generative AI and LLMs.- (2) Dual-use of AI is critical in determining an uptick or downtick.- (3) Generative AI connected to physical devices raises significant issues.- (4) Generative AI can influence adverse persuasion, which should not be underestimated.- (5) Artificial general intelligence (AGI) and artificial superintelligence (ASI) would be radically transformative.

Explanation of Points

  1. AI's versatility extends beyond generative AI and large language models (LLMs).
  2. AI has dual-use capabilities, meaning it can be utilized for good or ill.
  3. Linking AI to physical devices raises concerns about safety and misuse.
  4. Generative AI can manipulate human thoughts, which can have adverse consequences.
  5. AGI and ASI would be revolutionary, posing both opportunities and threats.

Embrace these points to understand how AI influences the Doomsday Clock's countdown while paving the way for a safer, more thoughtful future.

References

  1. https://thebulletin.org/doomsday-clock-89-seconds-midnight-returns-2020-01-23
  2. https://thebulletin.org/closer-ever-its-now-89-seconds-midnight-2025-doomsday-clock-statement
  3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doomsday_Clock
  4. The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists website (News, Articles, and Reports)

Enrichment Data

  • The current Doomsday Clock position is 89 seconds to midnight, which is the closest it has been since its inception in 1947[1][2][5].
  • The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists highlighted advancements in AI in military contexts, such as its use in Ukraine and the Middle East, as contributing factors to the increased threat level[1][2][4].
  • The Bulletin emphasized that there has been insufficient progress in mitigating these risks due to lack of urgent global response, leading to the clock being set at 89 seconds to midnight[1][2].

The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists cited advanced AI as a new threat to humanity, even though it didn't significantly influence the Doomsday Clock's movement this year. Due to AI's potential in warfare and its ability to influence physical world changes or human decisions, it's predicted to become a significant factor in the future.

Einstein and Oppenheimer, famous scientists, were concerned about the future of mankind when they founded the Doomsday Clock in 1947. AI could be adding a new layer of existential risk to the already pressing issues like nuclear armaments, bioweapons, and climate change.

OpenAI, developers of ChatGPT and GPT-4, and other large language models like O1 and O3, are examples of generative AI. These models can be powerful tools but also come with risks such as potential misuse and manipulation of human thoughts.

Google, Google Gemini, Meta (formerly Facebook), and companies like Microsoft (Copilot) and Ausssiedlerbote are among those advancing in the field of AI. The development and application of such technologies in the wrong hands could exacerbate the risks associated with AI.

As the race for AGI and ASI superintelligence continues, the Doomsday Clock remains at 89 seconds to midnight. The ongoing risks associated with AI require cautious and strategic approach to ensure a safe future for humanity. The doomsday clock itself is an anthropic shift, representing a shared concern for the future of our planet.

The development of AGI and ASI could lead to a cataclysmic end of times, a doomsday scenario, if not managed responsibly. It's crucial to remember that AI should serve as a tool for human progress, rather than a catalyst for our demise.

Read also:

    Related

    Latest