New study: How likely is it that robots will wipe out civilization?

Cambridge researchers are to assess whether technology could end up destroying human civilisation.

The Centre for the Study of Existential Risk (CSER) will study dangers posed by biotechnology, artificial life, nanotechnology and climate change.

The scientists said that to dismiss concerns of a potential robot uprising would be “dangerous”. …

But despite being the subject of far-fetched fantasy, researchers said the concept of machines outsmarting us demanded mature attention.