Nuclear scientists have moved the hands of the Doomsday Clock forward by one second – now it shows 89 seconds to nuclear midnight.
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, an organization that deals with science and global security, reported this.
The reasons for the transfer are nuclear risk, climate change, potential misuse of biological science, and several other new technologies, such as artificial intelligence. Another critical factor is the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“The war in Ukraine continues to be a major source of nuclear risk. This conflict could escalate into the use of nuclear weapons at any time due to a rash decision or due to an accident and miscalculations,” said Daniel Holtz, chairman of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Science and Safety Board.
The scientists named the Middle East as another source of instability due to the war in the Gaza Strip and broader regional hostilities involving various countries, including Iran. The organization also mentioned that China has increased military pressure near Taiwan, and North Korea continues to test multiple ballistic missiles.
Scientists see risks in AI’s integration into the military. They emphasize that such efforts raise the question of the extent to which machines will be allowed to make military decisions that could lead to massive loss of life, including those involving the use of nuclear weapons.
The Doomsday Clock project was launched in 1947 at the University of Chicago by the creators of the first American nuclear bomb. At the time, its hands showed 7 minutes to midnight.