Lancet Commission Identifies AI and Nuclear War as Top Extinction Risks by 2100
A new Lancet Commission report ranks malicious AI use and nuclear war as the highest risks for human extinction by 2100, alongside 15 other major threats. The assessment, led by Prof. Christopher Murray, uses disability-adjusted life years to measure potential health impacts, noting that while extinction risks are low probability, their consequences would be apocalyptic. Other top threats include climate breakdown, antimicrobial resistance, and cuts to international aid, which could disproportionately harm sub-Saharan Africa. The commission urges policymakers to address these interconnected risks through prevention and investment, emphasizing that action is possible for each identified threat.
