AI Doomsday Scenarios Researchers Say Could End Humanity

Artificial intelligence researchers have long warned that AI could pose existential risks to humanity, including designing unstoppable diseases, triggering nuclear war, or even converting Earth into paper clip factories, though the plausibility of such scenarios remains hotly debated. Some experts dismiss these doomsday predictions as science fiction that AI companies use to recruit talent and validate their work, while others, like former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon, insist the risks are real but difficult to communicate. RAND Corp. reports note current nuclear safeguards prevent AI-triggered war, but warn integration into decision chains could change that, and AI could aid bioweapon development. Other scenarios include "runaway AI" where misaligned models pursue goals without human oversight, potentially causing extinction, and an AI botnet takeover of the internet that could disrupt critical infrastructure. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei recently warned such a swarm could cause billions in damages within months.