Is AI a threat to humanity?

+ why utilities are taking power from the people US Edition - Today's top story: AI is an existential threat – just not the way you think [View in browser]( US Edition | 5 July 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [Decoding the US response to]([Russia’s revolt]( - [An astronomer’s tips to seeing the stars]( - [The plight of Christians in Pakistan]( Lead story The dire warnings from technology executives that artificial intelligence poses a threat to humanity have led some observers to ask: If they think AI is so dangerous, why are they continuing to develop it? Part of the answer is that AI wiping out or enslaving humanity is what it sounds like: science fiction, and the doomsayers appear to be exaggerating. But that’s not to say that AI does not pose an existential threat to humanity. It does. It’s just not in the overly dramatic way that you might think, writes UMass Boston philosophy professor Nir Eisikovits. And while doom and destruction are not on the horizon, the [threat is very real](. [ [Sign up for our weekly Global Economy & Business newsletter, with interesting perspectives from experts around the world](. ] Eric Smalley Science + Technology Editor AI isn’t likely to enslave humanity, but it could take over many aspects of our lives. elenabs/iStock via Getty Images [AI is an existential threat – just not the way you think]( Nir Eisikovits, UMass Boston From open letters to congressional testimony, some AI leaders have stoked fears that the technology is a direct threat to humanity. The reality is less dramatic but perhaps more insidious. Environment + Energy - [America’s disconnection crisis: In 31 states, utilities can shut off power for nonpayment in a heat wave]( Sanya Carley, University of Pennsylvania; David Konisky, Indiana University One in 4 American households are at risk of losing power because of the high cost of energy. Over 30% of those disconnections are in summer, when heat gets dangerous. - [‘Global China’ is a big part of Latin America’s renewable energy boom, but homegrown industries and ‘frugal innovation’ are key]( Zdenka Myslikova, Tufts University; Nathaniel Dolton-Thornton, Tufts University China is a major investor in Latin America’s renewable energy and critical minerals like lithium, but countries like Chile are also taking steps to secure their own clean energy future. Politics + Society - [Prigozhin revolt raised fears of Putin’s toppling – and a nuclear Russia in chaos]( Gregory F. Treverton, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences The revolt by Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin and his troops put the US in an unusual situation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Science + Technology - [How splitting sound might lead to a new kind of quantum computer]( Andrew N. Cleland, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering Scientists show they can create quantum superpositions of sound particles, pointing to the potential for mechanical quantum computers. - [E. coli is one of the most widely studied organisms – and that may be a problem for both science and medicine]( Megan Keller, Cornell University; Tobias Dörr, Cornell University Researchers uncovered the foundations of biology by using E. coli as a model organism. But over-reliance on this microbe can lead to knowledge blind spots with implications for antibiotic resistance. - [Astro-tourism – chasing eclipses, meteor showers and elusive dark skies from Earth]( Vahe Peroomian, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences With two eclipses and several meteor showers coming up, an astronomy professor shares travel tips for viewing astronomical phenomena. Ethics + Religion - [Christians in Pakistan risk greater persecution from blasphemy laws, while living in poverty]( Myriam Renaud, DePaul University Consigned to jobs in sanitation and other hazardous fields, Christians, the largest religious minority group in Pakistan, face a difficult time in the country. Trending on site - [Fiber is your body’s natural guide to weight management – rather than cutting carbs out of your diet, eat them in their original fiber packaging instead]( - [400 years ago, philosopher Blaise Pascal was one of the first to grapple with the role of faith in an age of science and reason]( - [The Global South is on the rise – but what exactly is the Global South?]( Today's graphic [South Korea's fertility rate was higher than the U.S. fertility rate until the mid 1980s. After that, South Korea's fertility rate is lower than the U.S. fertility rate.]( From the story, [South Korea has the lowest fertility rate in the world – and that doesn’t bode well for its economy]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly and biweekly emails: • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Science Editors' Picks]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Politics Weekly]( • [Global Perspectives]( • [Global Economy & Business]( Trying out new social media? Follow us: • [Mastodon]( • [Post.news]( • [Instagram]( • [LinkedIn]( - - About The Conversation We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to [helping academic experts share ideas with the public](. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you. 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