A nonprofit group called the Center for AI Safety has issued a stark warning that artificial intelligence could become a threat to humanity on the same level as pandemics or nuclear war. Their brief but powerful statement was signed by more than 350 experts, including top AI researchers and executives from companies like Google and Microsoft. Among them were Geoffrey Hinton and Yoshua Bengio, the “godfathers of AI,” whose groundbreaking work in deep learning helped create the foundation for today’s powerful AI systems. The warning comes amid growing concern that tools like ChatGPT could replace human jobs, spread misinformation, and enable deepfake content capable of influencing political events such as elections.

Experts fear that the development of artificial general intelligence — machines potentially smarter than humans — could one day escape human control. While some believe this scenario is still far in the future, tech leaders argue that ethical rules and safety measures must be created now before technology advances further. The statement also reveals that concern over AI risks is more widespread within the tech community than previously believed, with many insiders privately sharing fears about unchecked development. As computing power grows and new breakthroughs emerge, researchers stress that preparing for AI’s potential dangers is just as important as embracing its benefits.