Could AI really wipe out humanity – six experts spell out the risks

Experts say claims AI could kill all humans through biological weapons development had no scientific basis. Experts say claims AI could kill all humans through biological weapons development had no scientific basis. There have been some shocking claims in recent days about AI safety: we face a 10% chance of doom; AIs are worse than nukes; a "botnet" threatens the entire internet; it's all a big tech psyop. Below, we look at six claims and reactions to them. 'In 6-12 months a swarm could be capable of taking over the entire internet with a persistent botnet - potentially causing hundreds of billions of dollars in damage' - Dario Amodei, chief executive of Anthropic, 12 September 2026 Amodei's concerns should not be entirely dismissed but require a large shaker of salt, said Gary Marcus, an AI sceptic and emeritus professor at New York University.