AI and the risk of human extinction: A $2 trillion debate?

Prominent figures including Sam Altman, Geoffrey Hinton, and Vitalik Buterin have raised alarms regarding the potential for artificial intelligence to escape human control. However, the nature of these concerns varies significantly, ranging from existential threats to humanity to immediate socioeconomic impacts like job displacement and geopolitical competition. In March 2023, the Center for AI Safety released a statement signed by leaders from OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Anthropic, classifying AI-related extinction risks as a global priority comparable to nuclear war. By October 2025, the Future of Life Institute further intensified the discourse with its Statement on Superintelligence.