Stephen Hawking’s haunting warning for humanity before his death

The English physicist died in 2018.

The theoretical physicist, who has the motor neurone disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), spoke to the BBC ten years ago about his use of a new speaking system developed by Intel.

The new technology, already employed as a smartphone keyboard app, learns how the professor thinks and suggests the words he might want to use next.

During the conversation, he delivered the following phrase: "The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race."

His warning came in response to a question about a revamp of the technology he uses to communicate, which involves a basic form of AI.

Professor Hawking says the primitive forms of artificial intelligence developed so far have already proved very useful, but he fears the consequences of creating something that can match or surpass humans.

"Humans, who are limited by slow biological evolution, couldn't compete, and would be superseded," he added.

In the short term, there are concerns that clever machines capable of undertaking tasks done by humans until now will swiftly destroy millions of jobs.

Professor Hawkings isn't the only one who has has warned of the potential consequences of artificial intelligence.

Elon Musk claimed that AI is eventually going to take all our jobs and that work will become ‘optional’.

"If you want to do a job that’s kinda like a hobby, you can do a job," said the Tesla founder. "But otherwise, AI and the robots will provide any goods and services that you want."

While he assured that there would be “no shortage of goods or services”, Musk did raise concerns over what these changes would mean for people’s mental health and sense of purpose.

“The question will really be one of meaning – if the computer and robots can do everything better than you, does your life have meaning?” he said. “I do think there’s perhaps still a role for humans in this – in that we may give AI meaning.”