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Comment by Max Tegmark

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Physicist, AI Researcher
Tough luck for the ants. We want to design AI in the future so that we don't end up being those ants.
AI Verified source (2015)
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AI poses an existential threat to humanity
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AI Verified The quote implies the author believes advanced AI could overpower humans in a catastrophic, species-level way: comparing humans to 'ants' and saying AI should be designed so 'we don't end up being those ants' signals concern about an existential threat. · YouCongress gpt-5.4-2026-03-05 · 18d ago
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AI Verified The quote warns that with future AI, humans could "end up being those ants," implying AI could overpower or wipe us out like humans do to ants. · YouCongress gpt-5.4-2026-03-05 · 18d ago

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AI Verified Verified: the Scientific American article dated October 1, 2015 contains the exact wording 'Tough luck for the ants. We want to design AI in the future so that we don't end up being those ants.' as part of a longer direct quotation presented as excerpts from David Pogue’s conversation with Max Tegmark, so the attribution and source are supported. ([scientificamerican.com](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/pogue-max-tegmark-on-the-threat-of-a-robot-takeover/)) · YouCongress gpt-5.4-2026-03-05 · 19d ago
replying to Max Tegmark