The Precipice: Existential Risk and the Future of Humanity

Anthropogenic risk refers to existential threats that are the result of human action, as opposed to natural events. The Precipice discusses how the rise of technology and industry has led to new dangers that humanity must navigate, such as nuclear warfare, climate change, and biotechnology risks. These risks are a focal point of the book as they can potentially lead to human extinction if not managed properly.

Toby Ord contrasts anthropogenic risks with natural risks such as supervolcanic explosions, supernovae, and asteroids colliding with the Earth. Though these events could trigger an extinction-level catastrophe, Ord argues that humanity’s own innovations prove a far greater threat to its survival.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. This encompasses a range of capabilities, including machine learning, problem-solving, and natural language comprehension. AI systems can analyze data, recognize patterns, and adapt to changing circumstances, allowing them to perform tasks such as image and speech recognition, decision-making, and translation. AI has applications across various industries, from healthcare and finance to transportation and entertainment, and its ongoing development raises important ethical and societal considerations.

In The Precipice, Ord acknowledges that AI holds immense promise in enhancing efficiency, automating tasks, and solving complex problems across various domains and, in many cases, improving quality of life.