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Doomsday Clock Nears Midnight as AI Fuels Nuclear Interest and Tech Moguls Eye Smart Glasses Future
The Doomsday Clock was set to 85 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever been to global catastrophe, according to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Science and Security Board (SABS). The announcement, made on January 28, 2026, highlighted the growing threat of nuclear weapons, disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence, biosecurity concerns, and the ongoing climate crisis, Wired reported. Simultaneously, developments in artificial intelligence were driving investment in next-generation nuclear power, while tech leaders like Mark Zuckerberg envisioned a future dominated by AI-powered smart glasses.
The Doomsday Clock, created in 1947 during the Cold War, serves as a symbolic representation of humanity's proximity to self-destruction. The SABS, an expert council, annually updates the clock's hands based on a variety of global threats.
One of the key drivers of concern was the rapid advancement and deployment of artificial intelligence. MIT Technology Review reported that AI's massive computational appetite was fueling unprecedented investment in data centers and the energy supply needed to power them. Next-generation nuclear power plants were being considered as a potential energy source, offering the promise of cheaper construction and safer operation compared to older models.
Meanwhile, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg discussed his ambitions for the company's AI smart glasses business during Meta's Q4 2025 earnings call on Wednesday. "It's hard to imagine a world in several years where most glasses that people wear aren't AI glasses," Zuckerberg said, according to TechCrunch. He noted that sales of Meta's glasses had tripled in the past year, calling them "some of the fastest growing consumer electronics in history." Zuckerberg compared the current moment to the arrival of smartphones, suggesting that AI glasses were poised to become ubiquitous.
In other news, SpaceX was reportedly making demands on U.S. state governments regarding broadband grants for Starlink, Ars Technica reported. SpaceX would provide all necessary equipment to receive broadband at no cost to subscribers requesting service, eliminating the up-front hardware fee. The company pledged to make broadband available for $80 or less a month, plus taxes and fees, to people with low incomes in subsidized areas.
Separately, European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius told Euronews that while the European Union relied on US nuclear protections, it could and must work towards becoming independent in conventional defense. "Europeans cannot replace the US nuclear umbrella, at least for the time being, but when it comes to conventional defence the situation is different," Kubilius said. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte had previously stated that the EU relied on US nuclear protections.
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