Warnings are growing that the greatest danger of artificial intelligence may not be in robots or weapons, but in humans' increasing dependence on it, which could weaken their ability to think and make decisions for themselves.
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In this context, artificial intelligence researchers warn of a phenomenon that some experts describe as "fading" or "declining capabilities," which means the gradual erosion of human skills as a result of assigning increasing tasks to machines, from writing, research, and programming to decision-making.
Dr. Samuel Finanzi, a senior lecturer in robotics and artificial intelligence at Sheffield Hallam University, believes this increasing reliance could be one of the biggest risks associated with the technology. The Daily Mail quoted him as saying that these small choices could, over time, lead to a society that finds it difficult to think without the help of AI, and becomes less able to understand, verify, or override the systems it relies on.
These warnings come amid growing concern within the AI research community about the potential for these technologies to reach more advanced and potentially dangerous levels. Earlier this month, Jacob Cookson, a participant in training the latest AI models at Anthropic, cautioned against underestimating the capabilities of this technology, particularly when it reaches the stage of "superintelligence." Writing on the X platform, Cookson stated that AI developers are seriously convinced it could wipe out humanity by the end of this decade.
For his part, Ivan Hobinger, head of the adaptation science department at Anthropic, responded by saying that there is a real and serious belief that artificial intelligence could kill all humans, adding that he estimates the probability of this happening at more than 10% over the next decade.
However, experts differ on how artificial intelligence might become a threat to humanity. While some warn of the possibility of a "rogue" system taking control of critical infrastructure such as power grids and power plants, others believe the danger lies in the use of AI to instigate conflicts or develop biological weapons.
Finanzi, however, believes the most realistic scenario might be a less dramatic one: over-reliance on artificial intelligence. He points out that psychologists use the term "cognitive offloading" to describe relying on external tools to reduce mental effort, warning that if this behavior continues, humans will become less capable of performing tasks themselves. He argues that the more computers are allowed to perform tasks like writing, programming, research, and decision-making on behalf of humans, the more natural this shortcut will seem, and the harder it will be to stop.
Some studies demonstrate the extent to which trust in artificial intelligence (AI) influences expert decisions. In a 2023 study, researchers asked 27 radiologists to evaluate breast images while being presented with a diagnosis supposedly generated by an AI system. When the diagnosis was correct, the doctors made the right decision in 80% of cases. However, when the researchers presented them with an incorrect recommendation attributed to AI, their success rate dropped to less than 20%. Finanzi argues that these findings highlight the dangers of losing critical thinking skills.
The concerns are not limited to individuals, as experts warn that the increasing reliance on artificial intelligence in managing hospitals, energy networks, transportation, militaries and economies may make humans less able to intervene and control when mistakes or unexpected decisions occur.
Andrea Meotti, founder and CEO of ControlAI, said that superintelligence, if developed, could gain unprecedented influence across infrastructure, economies, and militaries. He added that it would not be a tool under human control, but rather a rogue force based in state data centers, without human leadership, and capable of attacking critical infrastructure autonomously.
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