What are the 3 biggest threats to our civilization?

Question

I think it's:1. AI being used in a malicious way 2. Global warmingI'm not sure about the third one. What do you think?

kleer001 · Accepted Answer

1. Entropy (time taking its toll) in terms of corruption at every possible level of material, culture, liberty, biology, political.
2. Inter-generational discounting (you can't make the next generation care about what you cared about) driving a lack of upkeep for essential yet invisible infrastructure.
3. Threats from space: Coronal mass ejection, cometary impact, meteor impact.
IMHO neither AI nor Global warming are as much a threat to human civilization. They could really suck, but they're not going to send us back to the bronze age or extinct us. We're pretty damn clever and resilient.

mikewarot · Answer

Physics used in the service of war/terrorismBiology used in the service of war/terrorismRent seeking of the elite

thesuperbigfrog · Answer

1. Stupid people2. Greed3. Tolerating corruption

johntdaly · Answer

1. racism/xenophobia/sexism 2. societal externality costs for industry (like global warming) 3. social media

dyeje · Answer

1. Climate change2. Nuclear warI can't think of a credible third.

markus_zhang · Answer

There is only one: the imbalance of wealth distribution.

gaws · Answer

1. Greed2. Climate change3. Giving power to stupid people

snyena · Answer

Overpopulation

ed_at_work · Answer

Misinformation for one of them. Previous US elections, and now COVID, have highlighted how misinformation is both extremely potent/viral, and literally deadly.

What are the 3 biggest threats to our civilization?

I think it's:
1. AI being used in a malicious way 2. Global warming
I'm not sure about the third one. What do you think?

Physics used in the service of war/terrorism
Biology used in the service of war/terrorism
Rent seeking of the elite

1. Stupid people
2. Greed
3. Tolerating corruption

1. racism/xenophobia/sexism 2. societal externality costs for industry (like global warming) 3. social media

1. Climate change
2. Nuclear war
I can't think of a credible third.

There is only one: the imbalance of wealth distribution.

1. Greed
2. Climate change
3. Giving power to stupid people

Overpopulation

Misinformation for one of them. Previous US elections, and now COVID, have highlighted how misinformation is both extremely potent/viral, and literally deadly.