AI and nuclear war threaten human extinction by 2100, report warns

Malicious use of AI and nuclear conflict pose the biggest threat to human extinction by the year 2100, global experts have warned.

A new report, published in The Lancet, identifies 17 interlinked "catastrophic threats" spanning disease, social and economic conditions, environmental change, technology and conflict.

In addition to the two extinction-potential threats - 15 catastrophic dangers to human health are also identified, including air pollution, climate change, high alcohol use, naturally occurring pandemics, obesity, smoking and poor mental health.

Researchers warned world leaders the greatest threats to human survival and health required co-ordinated, targeted action - and must be addressed together.

Decisions across health, finance, climate, defence and security sectors will determine how many years of good health future generations gain - or lose - to preventable illness and early death, they said, adding there was "a realistic route to act".

Commission co-chair Professor Christopher JL Murray, director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington, said: "The striking finding is not only the scale of these threats, but that humanity still has the agency to act.

"Across all 17 catastrophic threats, the decisions made by leaders today will shape the health and wellbeing of the next generation. But delaying action will only serve to shift and increase the costs into the future."

Co-chaired by Dr Murray and Dr Natalia Kanem, former executive director of the United Nations Population Fund, the risk assessment was compiled drawing on the expertise of 35 leaders spanning health, economics, security, governance and technology.

Authors of The Lancet Commission on 21st Century Global Threats to Health examined hundreds of possible dangers, drawing on historical evidence and new risk analysis covering 204 countries and territories from the IHME to draw the list of worst-case scenarios.

These were identified by researchers modelling how many years in good health might be lost due to sickness, disability or early deaths due to each threat - a measure known as disability-adjusted life years (Dalys). A threat was identified as catastrophic if it could account for at least one billion Dalys.

Other catastrophic dangers to human health included antimicrobial resistance, childhood malnutrition, conventional conflict, declining overseas aid, high blood pressure, income inequality, low educational attainment and unhealthy ageing.

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Researchers urged world leaders to tackle the threats by improving health systems and increasing investment in technological innovations.

Dr Kanem said: "Recent global events show us just how quickly stability can give way to crisis, and how costly it is to respond only after disaster strikes.

"And the global threats to health risk amplifying existing inequalities, with the greatest burden falling on the most vulnerable communities.

"Yet the future is not inevitable. The commission makes a compelling case for reshaping the future by embedding foresight into decision-making.

"Governments and communities must act decisively starting today, to protect health and build a fairer, more peaceful and more secure future for the coming generations."

The findings will be shared at the three-day World Health Summit in Berlin, Germany, from Sunday.

(c) Sky News 2026: AI and nuclear war threaten human extinction by 2100, report warns