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161 years ago, a New Zealand sheep farmer predicted AI doom

Butler’s “Darwin among the machines” warned of a future mechanical race that could subjugate humanity.

The letter drew direct parallels between Charles Darwin's theory of evolution and the rapid development of machinery, suggesting that machines could evolve consciousness and eventually supplant humans as Earth's dominant species. GPT-4's release inspired several open letters signed by AI researchers and tech executives warning of potential extinction-level risks posed by advanced artificial intelligence. Somewhat like Eliezer Yudkowsky's 2023 proposal of bombing data centers to prevent AI takeover, Butler's letter concluded with a dramatic call to arms: "War to the death should be instantly proclaimed against them.

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