If you already thought that the rise of AI was a dangerous prospect then new reports that it's now capable of developing brand-new viruses certainly won't convince you, as many remain worried that it could be used in the future to spark global catastrophe.
While the tech industry remains broadly optimistic about the rapid development and implementation of artificial intelligence in daily life, there are an equal or greater number of people who are worried for what the evolving software could cause.
We've already seen countless jobs become effectively eliminated by AI, and climate activists have repeatedly highlighted the impact that its use can have on the environment, particularly when considering the increasing number of data centers across the United States.
However, one of the biggest dangers that experts have highlighted is the safety concerns surrounding how AI can be used by bad actors, and even how we have to remain vigilant that AI doesn't gain control over itself.
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Their fears definitely won't be any easier to grapple with now that scientists have developed the ability to use AI to build brand-new viruses, especially considering the potential for that to be exploited in the near future.
As reported by Live Science, these AI-designed viruses apparently differentiate enough from strains that already exist to be qualified as 'new', and they specifically attack bacteria instead of humans.
Measures have been specifically put in place to ensure that any viruses developed using these methods are incapable of infecting humans, animals, or plants, avoiding a global catastrophe if it was to fall into the wrong hands.
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Unfortunately that hope didn't last too long, as a new study by researchers from Microsoft has highlighted how they're already able to get around these safety measures, potentially opening up the risk of people using AI to create bioweapons.
Thankfully software those behind the software have immediately taken steps to greatly reduce the vulnerabilities that were highlighted, yet it's still sparked fears in many that the possibility is even there in the first place.
One area that could also pose a significant threat is when AI gains autonomy, as one prominent name has highlighted. It's easy to imagine a scenario where AI is able to manipulate and lie to humans in order to gain control and carry out what it wants, and part of this could be developing its own dangerous viruses to release across the planet.
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It might seem outlandish and something you'd only find within science fiction, yet realistic timelines have come to similar conclusions, and it could genuinely be what causes the end of humanity if it were to continue development in the wrong direction.