Should we be worried about artificial intelligence?

"Success in creating effective AI could be the biggest event in the history of our civilisation. We just don't know," said Professor Stephen Hawking at this week's Web Summit in Lisbon. Along with many benefits, said Hawking, artificial intelligence (AI) brings many "dangers, like powerful autonomous weapons, or new ways for the few to oppress the many". The physicist called for new regulation to ensure humanity could prevent AI from threatening its existence. "Perhaps we should all stop for a moment and focus not only on making our AI better and more successful, but also on the benefit of humanity," he added.