Doomsday Clock Nears Midnight Amid Global Threats
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists' Science and Security Board moved the symbolic Doomsday Clock to 85 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever been, citing escalating threats from nuclear weapons, climate change, disruptive technologies like AI, and biosecurity concerns. This announcement, made Tuesday, reflects a worsening global situation due to insufficient progress in addressing these critical challenges, according to multiple news sources.
The Doomsday Clock, maintained by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, serves as a symbolic representation of the likelihood of a human-made global catastrophe. The decision to move the clock closer to midnight was influenced by a combination of factors, including the rise of nationalistic autocracies and a lack of international cooperation, as reported by Wired.
AI is a significant factor in the clock's movement. Anthropic, an AI company, has been working on AI safety, with philosopher Amanda Askell leading the effort. Askell wrote most of an 80-page "soul document" for the chatbot Claude, aiming to instill moral education.
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists annually assesses global threats to determine the Doomsday Clock's setting. The clock is a metaphor, designed to warn the public and policymakers about the urgent need to address existential risks.
Discussion
Join the conversation
Be the first to comment