Despite the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the unprecedented global temperatures, and the buzz surrounding artificial intelligence, the Doomsday Clock will remain unchanged this year at 90 seconds to midnight.
Last year, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, responsible for adjusting the clock annually, moved it forward to 90 seconds to midnight, symbolizing imminent doom. This setting marked the closest proximity to annihilation the clock has ever indicated, and it will remain at this critical juncture this year.
Rachel Bronson, the president and CEO of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, emphasized two crucial points during a recent press briefing. She highlighted the profound instability represented by 90 seconds to midnight, warning against complacency, and underscored the rapid advancement of technology surpassing our capacity to regulate it effectively.
The Doomsday Clock serves as a symbolic representation of humanity’s nearness to global catastrophe, as explained by the Bulletin. Originally designed by artist Martyl Langsdorf in 1947 for the Bulletin magazine cover, the clock was initially set at seven minutes to midnight based on aesthetic appeal.
Today, the setting of the clock is determined by scientific and security experts evaluating various human-made threats such as climate change, nuclear proliferation, and emerging disruptive technologies like AI and biotechnology, according to the Bulletin.
Bronson summarized their decision-making process for this year, emphasizing the risks posed by nuclear weapon modernization programs, record-breaking global temperatures, and the escalating frequency of climate-related disasters. She also highlighted the dual nature of biological research, which offers solutions to pandemics while simultaneously posing the risk of triggering one. Additionally, the recent advancements in artificial intelligence raise concerns about its potential to either enhance or jeopardize civilization.
The primary purpose of the Doomsday Clock is to raise awareness about critical issues that the creators hold in high regard. The experts at the Bulletin may choose to adjust the clock forward or backward next year based on the progress they perceive in addressing these pressing global challenges.
