How AI is Exposing Our Dark Desires for the World’s End

Throughout human history, we have been intrigued by how life originated. But, predicting how everything will ultimately end is a different ball game altogether. Humans’ fascination with the end of time, the end of the world, or the end of humanity is not new. It finds mention in many ancient religious texts and mythologies. 

The Bible calls it Armageddon, where kings, under the influence of demonic forces, battles the Gods. Meanwhile, the Zoroastrians believed that the world will be devoured by fire, and, according to Norse Mythology, an all-destroying battle between the Gods will lead to the end of the world.

(JMW Turner, The Deluge, 1805)

Even though the influence of ancient religious texts and mythologies in modern times is waning, the fascination with the end of the world remains unchanged. The difference, as we see it, is that technology has, perhaps, replaced the supernatural. 

Rise of the machines

One of the early mentions of AI as a threat to humanity was in ‘Darwin among the Machines’, an article by Samuel Butler published in The Press newspaper on 13 June 1863. Butler, in this article, discussed the idea that machines, as a form of ‘mechanical life’ that is constantly evolving, could eventually surpass humans and become the dominant species.

Over time, as AI emerged as a prominent technology, the concern, or the fascination grew stronger. Most recently, a user gave a GPT-powered chatbot a sole task – to destroy humanity. Called ChaosGPT, the chatbot started scanning the web for the most destructive weapons and in a tweet, even said, “Human beings are among the most destructive and selfish creatures in existence.”

Although it's unlikely that the bot will accomplish its objectives in the near future, it does provide a glimpse into the frenzy surrounding the technology.

Back in 2017, Meta had to shut a project they had been working on because two AI robots developed by the company started conversing with each other in their own language. Likewise, an open-letter signed by over 2000 AI researchers to immediately pause the training of AI systems more powerful than GPT-4 for at least six months puts forth the question: Should we risk loss of control of our civilization?

Interestingly, the paper was signed by some prominent names in the industry, including Yoshua Bengio. They believe, if the pacy development remains unchecked, it could pose a significant threat to humanity. As it goes, research on ​​how to stop AI from ending humanity is already underway in different parts of the world. While Bengio and Co. do have a valid point, we wonder at what point in time did AI replace the supernatural and where does humanity's preoccupation with AI as a potential threat originate?

AI deep-rooted in science fiction 

The prevalence of AI as a theme in science fiction and dystopian narrative is one of the primary reasons for the human fascination with the idea of AI bringing about the end of humanity. One of the early mentions of AI in science fiction was in Butler’s 1872 novel Erewhon which again explores the ideas of machine consciousness and self-replicating machines.

The mention of AI in science fiction grew in the proceeding years. Similar scenarios also find mentions in novels by Arthur C Clarke and Isaac Asimov – two of the greatest science fiction writers of their generation.

Motion picture Dune (2021) starring Timothy Chalamet, which is an adaptation of Frank Herbert's best-selling novel, is set in a time where AI is prohibited due to the perceived threat posed by thinking machines to humanity. The portrayal of AI in blockbuster movies such as The Terminator and The Matrix, where humans fight for survival against AI, has contributed significantly to the popularisation of the notion of AI doomsday.

(A scene from The Terminator) 

Today, the number of science-fiction novels or films on AI is almost countless. Besides, over time, in popular culture, AI has emerged as a prominent adversary to humanity. This very prominent mention of AI has fueled the imagination of many and shaped their perceptions of what AI could potentially do.

Rapid advancement in AI

The pace of technological progress is swift, and the development of advanced autonomous weapons systems is rapidly approaching reality. Different governments in multiple countries, including India, are exploring the use of AI and are preparing for AI-based warfare. 

Lethal autonomous drones may have already been used in Libya, according to a UN report. It is only a matter of time before robots replace human soldiers on the battlefield. In 2021, the US government rejected calls for a binding agreement regulating or banning the use of killer robots. 

Interestingly, the fascination with robo-army is not new either. Radio-controlled tanks, also known as teletanks, were initially developed in the Soviet Union during 1929-1930. Different nations have been toying with autonomous weapons for quite some time. Today, the US army is testing a wide range of sophisticated robots to be used in battlefields. 

(A four-legged robot with a rifle)

The picture above may seem like something from a sci-fi film, but it is a robot created by the US-based company Ghost Robotics that could soon be deployed on the battlefield. Such developments also fuel humans' fascination or the fear of AI ending humanity. 

Fear of the unknown

Besides, for centuries, humans have been scared of the unknown. The inability to process ambiguous situations even leads to chronic anxiety disorders among humans. “Uncertainty can intensify how threatening a situation feels,” Ema Tanovic, a psychologist with the Boston Consulting Group in Philadelphia, told BBC.

When OpenAI released GPT-4 last month, many believed it could be the precursor to Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). In fact, OpenAI has made it their mission to achieve AGI. However, no one really knows what happens when we reach there or what follows thereafter. AGI is currently a topic of ongoing research and development and there is no concrete answer to what would happen after the development of such a system.

This very uncertainty also raises fear and is the motivation behind the open-letter signed by Bengio and others.