AI – Artificial Intelligence
Mega tech companies and national militaries are in a race to develop Artificial Intelligence. Not just AI to make some money by providing a useful service or improve decision making, but AI with unlimited capabilities to eliminate the need for workers (humans) and to gain a permanent advantage over rivals by forcing their AI to be the one mankind relies upon.
Tech advantages can be huge. Think of Israel in the 6 day, Yom Kippur, and Lebanon Wars where Israeli decimated opposing air forces – generally ending Arab governments attempts to eliminate the Jewish state.
The problem is companies and governments believe, or at least pretend to believe via press releases, that they will be able to somehow control an infinitely more intelligent entity that already today they admit to not understanding how it works.
Elon Musk has said there is a non-zero chance AI will not go Terminator mode against humanity. Numerous experts are raising increasing alarms that AI is becoming unchecked and will inevitably kill all humans.
As financial valuations spiral for AI companies, the greed factor is magnified. It is an unbelievable rush towards extinction.
Climate Change
In 2016 nations came together to sign the Paris Accords creating temperature goal which is to keep the rise in global surface temperatures below 2 °C (3.6 °F) above pre-industrial levels.
Without attempts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions it has been estimated temperatures will increase 40 °F by the end of the century destroying society then cooking everyone.
President Donald Trump has twice withdrawn the United States from the Paris Agreement. He does not believe in Climate Change as part of a broader non-belief by his supporters in science which is seen manifested in a wide variety of attacks such as being against vaccines, electric vehicles, anything and everything ‘green’, education and universities. Some still believe the earth is only 6000 years old and humans are here to ravish the planet and its resources without consequence.
Nuclear War
It is known even a “small” nuclear war could devastate the planet. Not just for those in the immediate blast zones, but worldwide starvation to death due to the effects on climate and food production. The United Nations has said the risk of nuclear warfare is at is highest point in decades.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has lowered the barrier for nuclear war saying Russia may use nuclear weapons in response to conventional attacks. India and Pakistan remain locked in decades old conflict which continues to escalate. North Korea is ruled by a madman who fortunately prizes self-preservation above anything else. Iran is the ultimate wildcard as nuclear weapons development will guarantee an all-out war with Israel and the US.