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Super-advanced artificial intelligence (AI), left unchecked, has a serious chance of surpassing humans to become the next apex species of the planet, according to Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin.

But that will boil down to how humans potentially intervene with AI developments, he said.

In a Nov. 27 blog post, Buterin, seen by some as a thought leader in the cryptocurrency space, arguedAI is fundamentally different from other recent inventions such as social media, contraception, airplanes, guns, the wheel, and the printing press as AI can create a new type of mind that can turn against human interests, adding:

Buterin argued that, unlike climate change, a man-made pandemic or nuclear war, superintelligent AI could potentially end humanity and leave no survivors, particularly if it views humans as a threat to its survival.

Even Mars may not be safe, Buterin added.

Buterin cited an August 2022 survey from over 4,270 machine learning researchers who estimated a 510% chance that AI would kill humanity.

However, while Buterin stressed that claims of this nature are extreme, there are also ways for humans to prevail.

Buterin suggested integrating brain-computer interfaces (BCI) to offer humans more control over powerful forms of AI-based computation and cognition.

A BCI is a communication pathway between the brains electrical activity and an external device, such as a computer or robotic limb.

This would reduce the two-way communication loop between man and machine from seconds to milliseconds and, more importantly, ensure humans retain some degree of meaningful agency over the world, Buterin said.

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Buterin suggested this route would be safer, as humans could be involved in each decision made by the AI machine.

The Ethereum co-founder also suggested active human intention to take AI in a direction that benefits humanity, as maximizing profit doesnt always lead humans down the most desirable pathway.

Buterin concluded that we, humans, are the brightest star in the universe, as weve developed technology to expand upon human potential for thousands of years, and hopefully many more to come:

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Vitalik Buterin: AI may surpass humans as the 'apex species' - Cointelegraph