Module 4 / Lesson 10.1
Toby Ord's Perspective on AI Risk
We begin with a reading excerpt from The Precipice by Toby Ord. In this section, Ord presents a structured account of why artificial intelligence may be one of humanity’s greatest opportunities and also one of its most profound challenges. He frames AI as a potential existential risk, highlighting the danger of misaligned goals and contrasting it with other global threats such as nuclear war and climate change.
Learning: Please read pp. 138–152 of The Precipice (course text).
Reflection: As you read, focus on why does Toby Ord see AI as uniquely different from other existential risks? What role does misalignment play in shaping AI risk? How does AI compare with natural and man-made risks covered earlier in the book?