Artificial Intelligence could sideline and "destroy" its human creators if engineers cannot get a grip on the ethics behind it, Stephen Hawking has warned. Speaking at the Web Summit in Lisbon, the theoretical physicist said AI has the potential to be the best or worst thing humanity has ever seen and the scary reality is we just don't know which yet. "We cannot know if we will be infinitely helped by AI or ignored by it and sidelined, or conceivably destroyed by it," he said. The Cambridge professor said that while AI could be hugely beneficial for reducing poverty, disease and restoring the natural environment, it's impossible to predict "what we might achieve when our own minds are amplified by AI." "AI could be the worst invention of the history of our civilization, that brings dangers like powerful autonomous weapons or new ways for the few to oppress the many." "AI could develop a will of its own, a will that is in conflict with ours and which could destroy us. In short, the rise of powerful AI will be either the best or the worst thing ever to happen to humanity."

Artificial Intelligence could sideline and "destroy" its human creators if engineers cannot get a grip on the ethics behind it, Stephen Hawking has warned. Speaking at the Web Summit in Lisbon, the theoretical physicist said AI has the potential to be the best or worst thing humanity has ever seen and the scary reality is we just don't know which yet. "We cannot know if we will be infinitely helped by AI or ignored by it and sidelined, or conceivably destroyed by it," he said. The Cambridge professor said that while AI could be hugely beneficial for reducing poverty, disease and restoring the natural environment, it's impossible to predict "what we might achieve when our own minds are amplified by AI." "AI could be the worst invention of the history of our civilization, that brings dangers like powerful autonomous weapons or new ways for the few to oppress the many." "AI could develop a will of its own, a will that is in conflict with ours and which could destroy us. In short, the rise of powerful AI will be either the best or the worst thing ever to happen to humanity."

On Wednesday, Stephen Hawking spoke at the opening of Cambridge University's new artificial intelligence center, which, in part, will investigate potential problems the technology may pose, reports the Telegraph. In his address, Hawking, a long-time critic of unchecked and poorly considered advances in the area, warned, "The rise of powerful AI will be either the best, or the worst thing, ever to happen to humanity." SEE ALSO: Stephen Hawking: 'Human race has no future' without space travel He indicated that while it may, "finally eradicate disease and poverty," it could, "also bring dangers, like powerful autonomous weapons, or new ways for the few to oppress the many." Further, said Hawking, "...in the future, AI could develop a will of its own -– a will that is in conflict with ours." The astrophysicist applauded the establishment of the Cambridge AI center, noting, "We spend a great deal of time studying history, which, let's face it, is mostly the history of stupidity ... so it is a welcome change that people are studying instead the future of intelligence."