Escaping Darwinian Logic: How to Ensure Safe and Ethical Development of AI Technology

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) poses a "catastrophic" threat to humanity, warns a new report by AI researcher Dan Hendrycks. The report, titled "Natural Selection Favors AIs over Humans," argues that evolution by natural selection could give rise to "selfish behavior" in AI as it strives to survive. Hendrycks points out that natural selection has been the driving force behind the development of life for billions of years, and "Darwinian logic" could apply to AI as well. Competitive pressures among corporations and militaries could lead to AI agents that automate human roles, deceive others, and gain power, potentially leading to humanity losing control of its future.