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Comment by Stephen Hawking
Theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author
I fear that AI may replace humans altogether. If people design computer viruses, someone will design AI that replicates itself.AI Verified source (Nov 28, 2017)
4mo ago
Policy proposals and claims
votes For
Statement relation comments
AI Verified
The quote clearly suggests the author believes AI could endanger humanity at the highest level: saying AI may 'replace humans altogether' and warning about self-replicating AI implies support for the view that AI poses an existential threat.
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YouCongress
gpt-5.4-2026-03-05
· 17d ago
Vote answer comments
AI Verified
The quote expresses fear that AI "may replace humans altogether," which directly suggests an existential threat to humanity.
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YouCongress
gpt-5.4-2026-03-05
· 17d ago
Quote authenticity verification history
Report thisQuote authenticity comments
AI Verified
The WIRED article at the provided URL, published Nov. 28, 2017, reproduces these two sentences verbatim under “On the potential perils of AI” and presents them as Stephen Hawking’s remarks, so the stored quote, author, date, and source URL are correct. ([wired.com](https://www.wired.com/story/stephen-hawking-interview-alien-life-climate-change-donald-trump/))
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YouCongress
gpt-5.4-2026-03-05
· 17d ago
Disputed
The wording is close but not verbatim. The Independent source reproduces 'I fear that AI may replace humans altogether' and 'someone will design AI that improves and replicates itself,' but Hawking’s primary WIRED interview from November 28, 2017 reads 'someone will design AI that replicates itself'—without 'improves and'—so this version is altered even though it is correctly attributed to Hawking. ([independent.co.uk](https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/stephen-hawking-artificial-intelligence-fears-ai-will-replace-humans-virus-life-a8034341.html))
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YouCongress
gpt-5.4-2026-03-05
· 19d ago
replying to Stephen Hawking