Robots might replace humans in future, warns Stephen Hawking

byPass: This is not the first time Stephen Hawking has raised an alarm about artificial intelligence. In 2015, he said that robots we design could crush humanity like an anthill.

While renowned physicist Stephen Hawking has been quite vocal about his views on how contacting aliens would be the downfall of humans, this time he has meted out a warning saying that robots will eventually replace humans completely.

The cosmologist has called artficial intelligence (AI) 'a new form of life', that will eventually take over mankind and 'outperform humans'.

According to a report in the Mirror, he said: He said: "I fear that AI may replace humans altogether.

"If people design computer viruses, someone will design AI that improves and replicates itself.

"This will be a new form of life that outperforms humans."

In an interview with WIRED magazine, Hawking had said that he doesn't believe there's a difference between what a human brain and a computer can achieve, so it follows that at some point the machines can become better than us.

‘I believe we have reached the point of no return,’ he said. ‘Our earth is becoming too small for us, global population is increasing at an alarming rate and we are in danger of self-destructing,’ he said according to a report in the Metro.

With this, he also stressed upon the gravitas of young people taking an interest in space research, so we can colonise other planets and save our species.

This is not the first time Stephen Hawking has raised an alarm about artificial intelligence. In 2015, he said that robots we design could crush humanity like an anthill.

He’s also said we should prepare to leave earth in 100 years, and that a ‘world government’ could be our only hope, the Metro report said.