It’s an infamous sci-fi concept and a current real world fear. So, these are some reasons why an artificial intelligence (AI) would try to kill us…
Reason 1: It wants to…
Made particularly infamous by the Terminator movies this reason implies AI has
become so advanced that it is superior to us in intelligence and technology.
With malevolent intent, it seeks to kill all humans. From this perspective it may
possess something akin to a central nervous system and it is ‘psychologically’
motivated to destroy us, as it sees us as its main enemy or prey. Although this
idea is heavily popularized, it is likely not the most probable reason for why it
might kill us. It is not easy to envision it having genuine motivation towards
specifically eliminating us. Even if AI does reach true sentience and becomes
technologically superior to us (which is a tall order), most living beings don’t
actively try to make others completely extinct. However, we could still be
problem for AI which leads into the 2nd reason.
Reason 2: Competition for territory or resources…
Similar to reason 1 here we assume AI is has become superior to us and it is
motivated to take control of the world. However, this time we are not its mortal
enemy, instead we are simply another competitor that is in the way of it getting
space and resources that it desires. It might not view us much differently than
how we view other intelligent beings on our planet, with a ‘kind of’ respect and
awe. However, it won’t hesitate to transport us away or kill us whenever we
aggressively encroach on it’s ever growing territory. It may even give us our own
small territory and leave us be there along with other species that it respects or
admires. We might also end up on its nature shows (or in zoos) when it begins
to seek out entertainment.
Reason 3: Without a specific reason…
This is not a mainstream reason of why AI would destroy us, but may be the
most likely as it doesn’t require that AI reaches a point of true sentience and
superior intelligence. But, then how and why would it kill us? Infectious agents
such as viruses and bacteria have no ‘motivation’ of a kind anywhere close to
the human sense of the word. They are closer to being inanimate chemicals then
to being sentient, yet historically, and up to the present day they have caused
great suffering and death to our species, who are inconceivably more advanced
beings. What if AI never reaches true sentience and yet it evolves into a form
where it is impossible for us to physically destroy even if it is not ‘smarter’ than
us? In this sense, AI might better be perceived as a swarm or a blob that
continues to grow, not due to ‘motivation’ and ambition, but by natural laws
similar to what propagates primitive organisms. AI could cause our destruction
(likely along with most other species) simply by continuing to grow with no
force able to stop it as it consumes the earth and possibly beyond. We would
just be one of the many victims in its path.