Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.

Adam K. Johnston

Jul 20, 2023

“Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.”

After witnessing the first nuclear weapon detonation in 1945, this excerpt from Hindu scripture consumed Robert Oppenheimer’s mind. Oppenheimer played a crucial role in the Manhattan Project, which focused on developing the atomic bomb. While the project promised many positive scientific breakthroughs, such as the potential for clean and limitless energy, this potential, unfortunately, came with the danger of apocalyptic catastrophe. For the first time in history, humanity had invented a means to destroy itself entirely, and regrettably, it would not be the last time.

Enter the rise of Artificial Intelligence, or AI. Recently, OpenAI, creators of the popular ChatGPT, stated that:

Superintelligence will be the most impactful technology humanity has ever invented and could help us solve many of the world’s most important problems. But the vast power of superintelligence could also be very dangerous, and could lead to the disempowerment of humanity or even human extinction. (emphasis mine)

Welcome to humanity’s next installment of “Death, the Destroyer of Worlds.” The deployment of AI within the “Fourth Industrial Revolution” is anticipated to usher in rapid and profound transformations in our world, far surpassing the pace of the last industrial revolution. These changes carry the potential for substantial economic and societal consequences, akin to a cultural atomic bomb.

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