The Download: AI’s extinction risk and bioweapons threat
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What's this about?
This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. Could AI really kill us all? Your questions, answered On Wednesday, MIT Technology Review hosted a live Roundtables event that asked the question many seem to be
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A cluttered laboratory filled with microscopes, test tubes, and computers, where a scientist in a lab coat is looking nervously at a screen displaying AI-generated bioweapons code.
Caption: When the code is open, the real threat is who's reading it.
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Based on the original story on technologyreview.com.
Editor's note
This week’s The Download delves into a concerning but essential topic: the potential risks AI poses, including its role in bioweapons and the broader existential threat it could pose. As we navigate this complex landscape, it's crucial to stay informed and thoughtful about how we can responsibly develop and use these technologies.
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Panel 1
*Alex is in his cluttered workshop, surrounded by circuits and gadgets. Sam stands by the door, holding a newspaper with the headline * Alex (excitedly) Sam (deadpan)
Alex: AI: Could It Kill Us All?
Alex: Sam, guess what? I'm building an AI to make coffee!
Sam: Great. How's it going?
Panel 2
*Alex is now surrounded by tangled wires and blinking lights, looking frustrated. Sam is holding a coffee mug, sipping calmly.* Alex (frustrated) Sam (calmly)
Alex: It's not working. I keep getting error messages.
Sam: Maybe start with something simpler?
Panel 3
*Alex and Sam are in the backyard, with Alex holding a remote control for a small, harmless-looking robot. Robin is flying a drone nearby, causing chaos.* Alex (optimistically) Robin (chaotically) Sam (smiling)
Alex: I think I'll start by teaching AI to water the plants!
Robin: And I'll teach it to dodge my drone!
Sam: As long as it doesn't teach itself to kill us, we're good.
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