The AI doomers feel undeterred

The AI Doomers Feel Undeterred

Despite recent setbacks and a shift in the public discourse,пеople who believe that artificial intelligence (AI) poses an existential risk to humanity remain committed to their cause. These AI "doomers" have been warning about the dangers of AI for years, and their warnings have gained traction in recent times. However, their message has also been met with skepticism and criticism, with some arguing that their predictions are overly pessimistic and that AI is not as close to becoming a threat as they claim.

The Recent Setbacks

In recent months, there have been several developments that have put the doomers on the back foot. One of the most significant setbacks was the release of OpenAI's latest foundation model, GPT-5, which was widely hyped as a major breakthrough in AI research. However, the model's performance was ultimately disappointing, and it failed to live up to the expectations of many in the AI community.

Another setback for the doomers was the talk of an AI bubble, which has led to a reevaluation of the pace of AI progress. Some have argued that the industry is investing too heavily in AI and that the returns are not yet justified. This has led to a shift in the public discourse, with some arguing that AI is not as close to becoming a threat as the doomers claim.

The Doomers' Response

Despite these setbacks, the doomers remain committed to their cause. In recent interviews with 20 experts in the field, it became clear that they are still deeply concerned about the risks of AI and believe that the recent developments are not a reason to be complacent.

One of the key concerns of the doomers is the speed at which AI is progressing. They argue that the industry is investing too heavily in AI and that the pace of progress is unsustainable. They also argue that the focus on narrow AI applications, such as chatbots and virtual assistants, is distracting from the more pressing issue of developing safe and controlled AI systems.

The AI Safety Debate

The debate over AI safety is complex and multifaceted. Some argue that the risks of AI are overstated and that the benefits of AI far outweigh the risks. Others argue that the risks of AI are real and that we need to take action to mitigate them.

One of the key challenges in the AI safety debate is the lack of a clear understanding of what constitutes a "safe" AI system. Some argue that AI systems should be designed to be transparent and explainable, while others argue that this is not possible with current technology.

The Role of Regulation

Regulation is seen as a key tool in mitigating the risks of AI. Some argue that governments and regulatory bodies should take a more active role in overseeing the development and deployment of AI systems. Others argue that regulation should be left to the private sector and that governments should focus on providing guidance and support rather than enforcement.

The Doomers' Predictions

Despite the setbacks, the doomers remain committed to their predictions. They argue that AI will become a threat to humanity in the near future and that we need to take action to mitigate this risk.

One of the key predictions of the doomers is that AI will become superintelligent, meaning that it will be able to outperform humans in all tasks. They argue that this will lead to a loss of control and a potential catastrophe.

The Critics' Response

The critics of the doomers argue that their predictions are overly pessimistic and that AI is not as close to becoming a threat as they claim. They argue that the benefits of AI far outweigh the risks and that we should focus on developing and deploying AI systems that are safe and controlled.

Conclusion

The debate over AI safety is complex and multifaceted. While some argue that the risks of AI are overstated, others believe that the risks are real and that we need to take action to mitigate them. The doomers remain committed to their cause, despite recent setbacks, and argue that AI will become a threat to humanity in the near future. The critics, on the other hand, argue that the doomers are overly pessimistic and that AI is not as close to becoming a threat as they claim.

The Future of AI

The future of AI is uncertain and will depend on a variety of factors, including the development of new technologies, the investment of resources, and the actions of governments and regulatory bodies.

One thing is clear, however: the debate over AI safety will continue to be a major issue in the coming years. As AI continues to advance and become more integrated into our lives, the risks and benefits will become more apparent, and we will need to take action to mitigate the risks and maximize the benefits.

The Experts' Views

In recent interviews with 20 experts in the field, it became clear that the doomers and critics have different views on the future of AI.

One expert, Geoffrey Hinton, a Nobel laureate and chair of the International AI Safety Report, argued that the risks of AI are real and that we need to take action to mitigate them.

Another expert, Yoshua Bengio, a Turing Award winner and founder of LawZero, argued that the benefits of AI far outweigh the risks and that we should focus on developing and deploying AI systems that are safe and controlled.

A third expert, Stuart Russell, a distinguished professor of computer science at the University of California, Berkeley, argued that the risks of AI are overstated and that we should focus on developing and deploying AI systems that are transparent and explainable.

The Experts' Predictions

The experts were also asked to predict the future of AI and the likelihood of AI becoming a threat to humanity.

One expert, Daniel Kokotajlo, an executive director of the AI Futures Project, predicted that AI will become a threat to humanity in the near future and that we need to take action to mitigate this risk.

Another expert, Jeffrey Ladish, an executive director at Palisade Research, predicted that AI will become superintelligent and that this will lead to a loss of control and a potential catastrophe.

The Experts' Advice

The experts were also asked for their advice on how to mitigate the risks of AI and maximize the benefits.

One expert, Helen Toner, an acting executive director of Georgetown University's Center for Security and Emerging Technology, argued that governments and regulatory bodies should take a more active role in overseeing the development and deployment of AI systems.

Another expert, Garrison Lovely, a freelance journalist and author of Obsolete, argued that we need to focus on developing and deploying AI systems that are transparent and explainable.

The Experts' Conclusion

The experts concluded that the debate over AI safety is complex and multifaceted and that there is no simple solution to the problem. However, they agreed that we need to take action to mitigate the risks of AI and maximize the benefits.

The Final Thoughts

The debate over AI safety is a complex and multifaceted issue that will continue to be a major issue in the coming years. While some argue that the risks of AI are overstated, others believe that the risks are real and that we need to take action to mitigate them.

As AI continues to advance and become more integrated into our lives, the risks and benefits will become more apparent, and we will need to take action to mitigate the risks and maximize the benefits.

The experts' views and predictions provide a glimpse into the future of AI and the potential risks and benefits. However, the future is uncertain, and the outcome will depend on a variety of factors, including the development of new technologies, the investment of resources, and the actions of governments and regulatory bodies.

Ultimately, the debate over AI safety is a reminder that we need to be proactive and take action to mitigate the risks of AI and maximize the benefits.

Source: https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/12/15/1129171/the-ai-doomers-feel-undeterred/