A leading computer science researcher has called for world leaders to take collective action to prevent super-intelligent artificial intelligence (AI) systems from overpowering humanity.
According to Stuart Russell, tech CEOs are currently locked in an artificial intelligence “arms race” that risks wiping out humanity. Speaking at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, the prominent researcher and University of California, Berkeley professor urged governments to pull the brakes, arguing that allowing private entities to essentially play “Russian roulette” with every human being is a “total dereliction of duty.”
Russell noted that the heads of major AI companies understand the dangers posed by super-intelligent systems. However, he emphasized that these CEOs cannot unilaterally disarm without facing dismissal from investors. Even OpenAI’s Sam Altman has stated on-record that AI could lead to human extinction.
The professor believes the responsibility to save the species now rests with world leaders who can take collective action.
While generative AI promises such breakthroughs as drug discovery, Russell highlighted severe threats to humans including job losses and mass surveillance. The most extreme risk remains AI systems themselves taking control, with human civilization becoming “collateral damage” in the process, he claims.
Recent warnings from startups like Anthropic support these concerns, noting that chatbot models could knowingly support efforts toward chemical weapon development. Others are already tracking the consequences of AI being exploited by malign actors, with billionaire chairman and CEO of Palo Alto Networks Nikesh Arora warning that
Attackers have already moved past experimentation. They are actively using AI, while many enterprises are still figuring out how to secure it.
Despite multiple international gatherings such as the one in New Delhi, previous summits have only resulted in voluntary agreements from tech companies.
