What is Existential Risk?
An existential risk is a disaster so great that it either wipes out all of humanity or permanently cripples us. These may be natural disasters, or man-made disasters of an intentional or accidental nature. An existential risk may have been around for a long time, or only a few decades, or perhaps it lies in our future. Examples of existential risk include large asteroid strikes, nuclear war, and rogue Artificial Intelligence. The concept of existential risk was first articulated in its current form by Dr. Nick Bostrom, an Oxford philosopher. He uses a risk chart similar to the following to explain existential risks: Scope of risk GlobalEl Niñodeforestationexistential risk Localthunderstormeconomic downturnhurricane Personalpapercutsprained ankleyou are shot Intensity of riskNegligibleManageableTerminal Existential risks are global and terminal, or perhaps near-terminal. An extremely contagious virus with a 99.9% lethality rate that no one is immune to is an example of an existential r
An existential risk is a disaster so great that it either wipes out all of humanity or permanently cripples us. These may be natural disasters, or man-made disasters of an intentional or accidental nature. An existential risk may have been around for a long time, or only a few decades, or perhaps it lies in our future. Examples of existential risk include large asteroid strikes, nuclear war, and rogue Artificial Intelligence. The concept of existential risk was first articulated in its current form by Dr. Nick Bostrom, an Oxford philosopher.
