Biographer who inspired 'Oppenheimer' backs bill banning use of AI in nuclear launches
The author whose biography of scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer inspired the new film "Oppenheimer" has backed a bill banning the use of artificial intelligence in the launching of nuclear weapons.
Kai Bird expressed support on Friday for the Block Nuclear Launch by Autonomous Artificial Intelligence Act introduced by Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.). Bird, whose 2005 book "American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer" served as the main inspiration for "Oppenheimer," said in a statement that humanity "must always maintain sole control over nuclear weapons...as my book chronicles, humanity missed a crucial opportunity at the outset of the nuclear age to avoid a nuclear arms race that has since kept us on the brink of destruction for decades."
Bird added, "We face the prospect of a new danger: the increasing automation of warfare. We must forestall the AI arms race...this bill will send a powerful signal to the world that the United States will never take the reckless step of automating our nuclear command and control."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Markey's legislation would be a provision in an upcoming defense spending bill, and the senator recently met with Bird to share "their mutual concerns over the proliferation of artificial intelligence in national security and defense without guardrails," a spokesperson for Markey told Politico.
While "Oppenheimer" presents a warning to the moviegoer about the dangers of nuclear proliferation, director Christopher Nolan also echoed Bird's warning about AI. Nolan told NBC News that AI researchers "literally refer to this as their Oppenheimer moment. They're looking to his story to say 'OK, what are the responsibilities for scientists developing new technologies that may have unintended consequences?'"
Physicist Carlo Rovelli also told NBC that the questions of "Oppenheimer" are "not just about the '40s and about general issues about the morality of scientists. They are burning questions today."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other Hollywood news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.
-
Who are undecided voters, anyway?
Talking Points They might decide the presidential election
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Wildlife populations drop a 'catastrophic' 73%
Speed Read The decline occurred between 1970 and 2020
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Arizona kicks off swing-state early voting
Speed Read The voting began with less than a month to go before the presidential election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Arizona kicks off swing-state early voting
Speed Read The voting began with less than a month to go before the presidential election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden, Netanyahu talk ahead of Israeli hit on Iran
Speed Read The pair spoke for the first time since August
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump kept up with Putin, sent Covid tests, book says
Speed Read The revelation comes courtesy of a new book by Bob Woodward
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Liz Cheney campaigns with Harris in Wisconsin
Speed Read The pair does not agree on much politically, but they share an anti-Trump stance
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How could escalation in the Middle East affect the global economy?
Today's Big Question Oil prices have already risen but wider conflict could see supply chains disrupted more broadly
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Biden, Harris visit storm-hit North Carolina, Georgia
Speed Read President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris took separate tours of the south to view the catastrophic damage from Hurricane Helene
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Jack Smith filing details Jan. 6 case against Trump
Speed Read The special counsel's newly unsealed brief argues Trump is not immune from prosecution and gives new details on his efforts to overturn the election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Has Russia's nuclear saber-rattling lost its edge?
Today's Big Question Kremlin worries repeated nuke threats have lost their potency
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published