A research team from the University of Cambridge's Centre for the Study of Existential Risk (CSER) has launched a Civilization 5 mod that adds superintelligent AI to the 4X colony-builder. By considering how we live and interact with hyper-intelligent bots, the project aims to demonstrate the knock on effects this may have on humanity. The Superintelligence mod introduces a number of AI technologies to the tech tree. Success is in turn hinged on your ability to govern humanity's reliance on sentient beings, wherein AI could be either beneficial or devastating. "Artificial intelligence can initially provide some benefits, and eventually can turn into superintelligence that brings mastery of science to its discoverer," reads the mod's Steam page blurb.

Cambridge University's Centre for the Study of Existential Risk (CSER) recently released a new Civilization 5 mod all about reducing the threat superintelligent AI can pose against mankind, The Verge reports. The creator of Unreal Engine describes his vision of the world-changing metaverse that's just 12 years away As The Verge points out, CSER was founded in 2012 to explore "various global catastrophes capable of collapsing civilization or wiping out humanity altogether." These dangers are referred to as "existential threats." One of these threats, the CSER thinks, is a superintelligent artificial intelligence system smarter than humans that ultimately chooses they aren't necessary to its system's needs. "We had the idea in the center that we wanted to do outreach for the idea of superintelligence – to get people with the right skillset interested, grow the field of people who care about AI safety, and test our own ideas," CSER postdoc researcher Shahar Avin told the outlet.