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Is AI Actually Going to Kill Us All?

read original get If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies" by Eliezer Yudkowsky and Nate Soares → more articles
Why This Matters

A WIRED podcast episode weighs whether AI existential-risk warnings are credible after an Anthropic researcher's viral resignation claiming a real chance AI wipes out humanity within a decade — a debate that shapes how the public and regulators treat AI safety claims. The episode also covers Apple's $2,000 foldable iPhone Duo and 'always listening' Apple Watch features, plus a WIRED investigation finding the US Census Bureau used faulty data in a report on noncitizen voting touted by the Trump administration.

Key Takeaways
Worth a Look

If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies" by Eliezer Yudkowsky and Nate Soares — If this episode's debate over AI doom has you wanting the full argument rather than a viral resignation letter, this book lays out the extinction-risk case in detail from two of its best-known proponents. It's a great companion read for anyone trying to decide whether the doom narrative is overblown or overdue.

See If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies" by Eliezer Yudkowsky and Nate Soares on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.

This week on Uncanny Valley, an AI researcher’s resignation from Anthropic went viral on social media after he claimed there’s a real chance AI could wipe out humanity within a decade. WIRED’s Will Knight joins Brian Barrett and Leah Feiger to assess whether the doom narrative is overblown or overdue. We also discuss Apple’s debut of its $2,000 foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, and the new “always listening” Apple Watch features that have Brian feeling more than a little uneasy. Plus, a WIRED investigation found that the US Census Bureau used faulty data to create a misleading report touted by the Trump administration.

You can follow Brian Barrett on Bluesky at @brbarrett, Zoë Schiffer on Bluesky at @zoeschiffer, Leah Feiger on Bluesky at @leahfeiger, and Will Knight on Bluesky at @willknight. Write to us at [email protected].

Articles mentioned in this episode:

How to Listen

You can always listen to this week's podcast through the audio player on this page, but if you want to subscribe for free to get every episode, here's how:

If you're on an iPhone or iPad, open the app called Podcasts, or just tap this link. You can also download an app like Overcast or Pocket Casts and search for “uncanny valley.” We’re on Spotify too.

Transcript

Note: This is an automated transcript, which may contain errors.

Brian Barrett: Welcome to WIRED's Uncanny Valley. I'm Brian Barrettt, executive editor.

Leah Feiger: And I'm Leah Feiger, director of politics and science.

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