Artificially intelligent robots will wipe out humans and rule the universe for billions of years, claims Martin Rees
Artificially intelligent machines take over from humans within a few hundred years, and go on to rule the universe for billions of years.
That's the prediction from Astronomer Royal Martin Rees , Emeritus Professor of Cosmology and Astrophysics at the University of Cambridge.
In a Q&A session with The Conversation , Rees said the period of time occupied by humans is "just a thin sliver between early life and the long era of the machines".
"If we look at our history on Earth, it has taken about 4 billion years to get from the first protozoa to our current, technological civilisation," he said.
"But if we look into the future, then it's quite likely that within a few centuries, machines will have taken over – and they will then have billions of years ahead of them."
Unlike humans these electronic super minds won't depend on a planet and an atmosphere, but will be happy in zero gravity, floating freely in space.
He added that if alien life exists elsewhere in the universe, it will probably be at a different stage of development to humans - and might have already evolved into some sort of electronic entity.
"Because such civilisations would develop at different rates, it's extremely unlikely that we will find intelligent life at the same stage of development as us," he said.
"More likely, that life will still be either far simpler, or an already fully electronic intelligence."
Rees is not the first scientist to warn that artificial intelligence could destroy our society by overtaking humans in the future.
Renowned cosmologist Stephen Hawking has warned that, while success in creating AI could be the biggest event in the history of our civilisation, it could also be the last.
"Alongside the benefits, AI will also bring dangers, like powerful autonomous weapons, or new ways for the few to oppress the many," he said last year .
"It will bring great disruption to our economy. And in the future, AI could develop a will of its own - a will that is in conflict with ours.
"In short, the rise of powerful AI will be either the best, or the worst thing, ever to happen to humanity."
Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has also warned that the pace of progress in artificial intelligence is incredibly fast, and that one day it could turn on us.
"I am not alone in thinking we should be worried. The leading AI companies have taken great steps to ensure safety," he said.
"They recognize the danger, but believe that they can shape and control the digital superintelligences and prevent bad ones from escaping into the Internet. That remains to be seen..."
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