Fears about technology causing extinction are not unprecedented
A look at newspaper archives shows parallels in how society debated the impacts of nuclear power and its regulation and AI, though there are limits to the analogy.
In 1941, physicist Arthur H. Compton delivered a lecture on the potential of sub-atomic energy, expressing uncertainty about the extent of its capabilities and the need to control it, according to the The Lincoln Evening Journal. At this time, there were various perspectives on the matter, including both doomsayers and utopian boosters, as well as scientists who advocated for a calm approach.
The parallels between this era and the present-day discussion on AI's potential danger to humanity are striking, with similar debates around excitement, anxiety, and dread surrounding powerful technology.
In 1919, British physicist Sir Oliver Lodge warned the British scientific society that an ounce of matter could potentially destroy a continent, and urged "good and wise men" to control this energy, rather than it being in the hands of malicious forces. Ernest Rutherford had split the atom the previous year, and H.G. Wells had coined the term "atomic bomb" in his 1914 novel. Six years later, Compton announced the study of atomic energy, which he believed could bring radical change to civilization.
The early 1900s saw a mix of skepticism and optimism surrounding atomic energy. In 1925, a Sunday feature in newspapers across the country questioned whether science should release the atom's power, citing fears that it might destroy the world and featuring an image of a locomotive. In 1939, nuclear fission was confirmed, and scientists sought to alleviate public alarm over the possibility of the world being destroyed by their experiments.
Written by urgent.news from Semafor's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
