Washington (TDI): Atomic scientists on Tuesday moved their “Doomsday Clock” closer to midnight than ever before, citing Russian nuclear threats amid its invasion of Ukraine, tensions in other hot spots around the world, military applications of artificial intelligence (AI) and climate change as factors underlying the risks of global catastrophe.
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists set the clock to 89 seconds before midnight, making a one second closer to annihilation compared to 2024.
The Chicago-based nonprofit created the clock in 1947 during the Cold War tensions that followed World War II to warn people about how close humankind was to destroying the world.
Threats
“The factors influencing this year’s decision — climate change, nuclear risk, the misuse of advances in biological science and emerging technologies like AI— were not new last year. However, the lack of progress in tackling these critical issues has led to more concerning and negative consequences,” said Daniel Holz, chair of the Bulletin’s Science and Security Board.
Holz added that setting the Doomsday Clock at 89 seconds to midnight is a warning to all global leaders.
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Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine launched Europe’s bloodiest conflict since World War II.
Holz stated, “The war in Ukraine remains a major source of nuclear danger, with the potential for escalation ro nuclear weapons at any moment, either through a hasty decision or an accident.”
The Middle East has been another source of instability with the Israel-Gaza war and broader regional hostilities involving nations including Iran.
Nuclear-armed North Korea continues with tests of different ballistic missiles.
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AI made rapid gains in capability and popularity last year, prompting growing concern among some experts about its military applications and its risks to world security.