Earth is moving closer to destruction, a science-oriented advocacy group said on Tuesday as it advanced its famous “Doomsday Clock” to 89 seconds till midnight, the closest it has ever been.
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists made the annual announcement — which rates how close humanity is from ending — citing threats that include climate change, proliferation of nuclear weapons, instability in the Middle East, the threat of pandemics and incorporation of artificial intelligence in military operations.
The clock had stood at 90 seconds to midnight for the past two years, and “when you are at this precipice, the one thing you don’t want to do is take a step forward,” said Daniel Holz, chairman of the group’s science and security board.
Photo: Reuters
The group said it is concerned about cooperation between countries such as North Korea, Russia and China in developing nuclear programs, and that Russian President Vladimir Putin has talked about using nuclear weapons in his war against Ukraine.
“A lot of the rhetoric is very disturbing,” Holz said. “There is this growing sense that ... some nation might end up using nuclear weapons, and that’s terrifying.”
Nuclear-armed China has stepped up military pressure near Taiwan and nuclear-armed North Korea continues testing various ballistic missiles.
“There are other potential hot spots around the world, including Taiwan and North Korea. Any of these could turn into a conflagration involving nuclear powers, with unpredictable and potentially devastating outcomes,” Holz said.
He also discussed the threats of AI to global security.
“Advances in AI are beginning to show up on the battlefield in tentative, but worrisome ways, and of particular concern is the future possibility of AI applications to nuclear weapons,” Holz said. “In addition, AI is increasingly disrupting the world’s information ecosystem.”
Additional reporting by Reuters
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