FBL16: Toby Ord - Biotech, AI, & The End of Humanity

This week our guest is Toby Ord, a senior researcher at Oxford’s Future of Humanity Institute, where he focuses on existential risk. Toby recently released his book Precipice: Existential Risk & the Future of Humanity, which explores the many threats capable not only of ending human civilization, but even causing our entire species to go extinct. It may seem like an unrealistic concern out of a sci-fi movie, but Toby suggests humanity has roughly a 1 in 6 chance of destroying ourselves within the next century. In this episode, we discuss how Toby arrived at this number and the deeper details of the threats that are facing us, with a particular focus on biotech and artificial intelligence, which Toby views as the most prominent areas of concern. Want to learn more about our podcasts and become a part of the community? Join here! Host: Steven Parton // Music by: Amine el Filali

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Explore the technologies shaping our future with the Singularity Discussion Series, from Singularity University. In each episode, leading experts dive deep into the current and future implications of exponential technologies—from AI and biotech to blockchain and quantum computing—and how their convergence is transforming industries, economies, and everyday life. Join us as we uncover the breakthroughs redefining what's possible and explore how leaders, innovators, and society can navigate this accelerating future. Visit su.org/events for to join us Live on Zoom for future conversations.