Stephen Hawking warns of 'AI arms race' – and reveals what most mystifies him

British physicist Stephen Hawking says the potential threat from artificial intelligence isn't just a far-off "Terminator"-style nightmare. He's already pointing to signs that AI is going down the wrong track. "Governments seem to be engaged in an AI arms race, designing planes and weapons with intelligent technologies," Hawking told veteran interviewer Larry King. "The funding for projects directly beneficial to the human race, such as improved medical screening, seems a somewhat lower priority." It's not surprising that Hawking is worried about AI – he's been issuing warning for years.