Unintended Consequences of Artificial Intelligence (AI): Skynet, the Terminator, and Extinction?

Abstract

Recent scholarship and expert commentary emphasize the transformative yet precarious role of artificial intelligence (AI) in education. Studies highlight AI’s potential to personalize learning, enhance engagement, and optimize institutional operations, while underscoring the importance of ethical design, student motivation, and faculty readiness. Frameworks integrating AI into curricula stress the need for digital literacy, inclusive governance, and responsible innovation. However, risks—from academic dishonesty to existential threats posed by Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)—require urgent attention. Eric Schmidt’s warning about AI’s unpredictable autonomy, particularly in military systems, echoes calls for global safety standards, oversight, and a moratorium on large training runs. A comprehensive, multidimensional approach—including international cooperation, ethical frameworks, and public engagement—is essential to mitigate AGI risks. As AI evolves, educational institutions must balance innovation with accountability, ensuring that AI enhances learning and aligns with societal values and safeguards against catastrophic outcomes. Human oversight remains paramount in this emerging landscape. The pivotal question is not “how” to use AI, but whether it should be used at all!