Stephen Hawking; next 100 years; dangerous;humanity's survival

[Curiosity]

Stephen Hawking has warned that humanity is in danger of destroying itself in the next 100 years as we rapidly progress in the realms of science and technology.

Speaking to the BBC, he said that while progress was good, it creates “new ways things can go wrong.” He highlighted nuclear war, global warming, and genetically engineered viruses as possible harbingers of doom of our own creation.

http://www.businessinsider.com/stephen-hawking-has-a-disturbing-message-for-humans-2016-1

[Pam]

I don't think we need to hear that from a genius. This is pretty much common sense. Although, I am glad he is willing to speak out for those that don't seem to have common sense any longer.

[ghostrider]

Humanity has one huge problem , the rapid advance in technology , is too far ahead of spiritual development ... we just dont want to accept as a society, that our thoughts and feelings have an affect on everything, in the ultra-fine world and the material realm ...

[Fellow Aspirant]

Good list, but it's missing the most significant (and most likely the most imminent) threat that Hawking warned us of: artificial intelligence ...

“Success in creating AI would be the biggest event in human history,” wrote Stephen Hawking in an op-ed, which appeared in The Independent in 2014. “Unfortunately, it might also be the last, unless we learn how to avoid the risks. In the near term, world militaries are considering autonomous-weapon systems that can choose and eliminate targets.” Professor Hawking added in a 2014 interview with BBC, “humans, limited by slow biological evolution, couldn’t compete and would be superseded by A.I.”

Some have speculated that this warning, which has been espoused by Elon Musk and Bill Gates in the same press release as Hawking's, is already too late.

I hope we never find out.

Brian

[Atlas]

humans, limited by slow biological evolution [...] superseded by A.I. [...] already too late.
https://jasperandsardine.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/ab050-00001953.jpg

Stephen Hawking and 1,000 Experts Sign Letter Warning Of Weaponized Robots


Starting a military AI arms race is a bad idea, and should be prevented by a ban on offensive autonomous weapons beyond meaningful human control.
Source: AUTONOMOUS WEAPONS: AN OPEN LETTER FROM AI & ROBOTICS RESEARCHERS (http://futureoflife.org/open-letter-autonomous-weapons)