INFORMATION

One day robots could entirely edge out human beings and become a new life form that is even capable of replicating itself, Stephen Hawking has warned, once again predicting a rather grim future for humankind.

"I fear that AI may replace humans altogether,� the renowned physicist told Wired magazine, as cited by the Cambridge News. �If people design computer viruses, someone will design AI that improves and replicates itself.

This will be a new form of life that outperforms humans,� Hawking added.
However, humanity itself has already reached �the point of no return� and may destroy itself first, the 75-year-old academic predicts. �Our earth is becoming too small for us, global population is increasing at an alarming rate and we are in danger of self-destructing.�


To avoid this apocalyptic scenario, Hawking suggests that mankind should come up with a space program "with a view to eventually colonizing suitable planets for human habitation."
This is not the first time Hawking has spoken about the potential threat of robots becoming self-conscious and exceeding human intelligence.

Last year, he warned the AI �could develop a will of its own � a will that is in conflict with ours,� adding that the rise of machines could become �either the best or the worst thing, ever to happen to humanity.� The scientist has also suggested moving to a different planet in the past, saying there were only some 100 years left to escape fragile Earth.