Key Takeaways
- An expert predicts AI could dramatically shrink Earth’s population to just 100 million by 2300.
- Widespread job losses to AI may make having children too costly for many individuals.
- This significant population decline could turn major global cities into deserted areas.
- Falling birthrates are already a recognized and growing concern worldwide.
A stark warning has been issued by a computer science expert: our world could see its population plummet to only 100 million people by the year 2300.
Professor Subhash Kak identifies artificial intelligence as the primary cause, suggesting it will eventually take over most human jobs. He believes this technological shift will make it incredibly expensive for people to raise children who may face a future with limited employment prospects.
The consequences could be profound, potentially transforming bustling metropolises like New York and London into “ghost towns,” according to Professor Kak. He shared these insights with The Sun, as reported by news.com.au.
A professor at Oklahoma State University and author on artificial intelligence, Kak explains that AI is poised to replace “literally everything.” He suggests this includes complex decision-making roles in offices, a development he argues will be devastating for society.
If this forecast materializes, Earth’s population would dwindle from its current estimated 8 billion to a figure just slightly larger than Great Britain’s present population. “The great cities of our modern times will be abandoned,” he stated, emphasizing this view is supported by data in his research.
This projected decline is closely linked to the falling birthrates already being observed globally. Professor Kak notes that “people have stopped having babies” in many parts of the world, including Europe, China, and Japan, with South Korea experiencing the most rapid decrease.
He suggests a significant reason for this trend is the perception of a future where job opportunities for the next generation are scarce. This outlook, Kak explains, “translates into extreme costs of child rearing,” making it a daunting prospect for many.
These concerns are echoed by prominent figures like Elon Musk, who has also voiced alarm about AI and declining birthrates, even raising the specter of human extinction. Professor Kak does not dismiss this possibility, noting that other threats, such as newly engineered pathogens, could also pose existential risks.
While acknowledging the inherent unpredictability of the distant future – “This is all like science fiction. Nobody really knows what’s going to happen,” Kak remarked – he remains convinced that “a population collapse occurring right before our eyes” is an undeniable current trend.
