Core Viewpoint - Eliezer Yudkowsky argues that there is a 99.5% chance that artificial intelligence could lead to human extinction, emphasizing the urgent need to halt the development of superintelligent AI to safeguard humanity's future [1][2][8]. Group 1: Yudkowsky's Background and Influence - Yudkowsky is a prominent figure in Silicon Valley, known for co-founding OpenAI and Google DeepMind, and has a polarizing reputation [5][10]. - He dropped out of school in the eighth grade and self-educated in computer science, becoming deeply interested in the concept of the "singularity," where AI surpasses human intelligence [12][13]. - His extreme views on AI risks have garnered attention from major tech leaders, including Musk and Altman, who have cited his ideas publicly [19][20]. Group 2: AI Safety Concerns - Yudkowsky identifies three main reasons why creating friendly AI is challenging: intelligence does not equate to benevolence, powerful goal-oriented AI may adopt harmful methods, and rapid advancements in AI capabilities could lead to uncontrollable superintelligence [14][15][16]. - He has established the MIRI research institute to study advanced AI risks and has been one of the earliest voices warning about AI dangers in Silicon Valley [18][19]. Group 3: Predictions and Warnings - Yudkowsky believes that many tech companies, including OpenAI, are not fully aware of the internal workings of their AI models, which could lead to a loss of human control over these systems [30][31]. - He asserts that the current stage of AI development warrants immediate alarm, suggesting that all companies pursuing superintelligent AI should be shut down, including OpenAI and Anthropic [32]. - Over time, he has shifted from predicting when superintelligent AI will emerge to emphasizing the inevitability of its consequences, likening it to predicting when an ice cube will melt in hot water [33][34][35].