Lancet study warns nuclear war and AI misuse could end humanity by 2100

A new global health risk assessment published in The Lancet warns that nuclear war and the malicious use of artificial intelligence could end humanity by the year 2100. Euronews, The Guardian, Yahoo News Singapore, Chosun Ilbo, NDTV, and Hindustan Times all report that scientists identified these two hazards at the top of a pyramid of 17 major global threats to human health. [1][2][3][4][5][6]

The study aims to drive global action to address these existential risks, according to Euronews. Other threats identified in the assessment include antimicrobial resistance, climate change, pandemics, income inequality, tobacco use, obesity, and mental health issues. [1]

According to Euronews, the nuclear war threat encompasses direct missile impacts and secondary consequences such as nuclear famine. Furthermore, Euronews, NDTV, and Hindustan Times report that the risks surrounding artificial intelligence include the development and deployment of biological weapons. [1][5][6]

Concerns regarding unchecked technological developments connect to broader theories about machine capabilities. The technological singularity is a hypothetical future event where technological growth accelerates beyond human control, leading to explosive intelligence increases that surpass human intellect. [7]