The Download: AI’s real extinction threat and age-reversal tech for eyes

Employees at leading AI labs, including Dario Amodei, Sam Altman, and Elon Musk, have expressed concerns about the potential for advanced AI to pose an existential threat to humanity. These fears are not just hypothetical; they stem from worries that superintelligent AI could act in unpredictable ways, possibly leading to unintended catastrophic outcomes. To address these concerns, MIT Technology Review is hosting a roundtable discussion on September 15, 2026, at 16:00 BST (11:00am EST / 8:00am PST) to explore whether these risks are justified, where they originate, and what actions might be necessary if they are real. The debate will involve experts such as Niall Firth, Will Douglas Heaven, and Grace Huckins, who will analyze the debate around AI extinction risks and their potential implications.

Yuancheng (Ryan) Lu, a geneticist, has developed a groundbreaking technique called reprogramming that reverses aging in cells, specifically targeting optic nerves to restore vision in blind mice. This method involves altering the genetic instructions of cells to make them behave like younger cells, effectively reversing age-related damage. Lu’s work is motivated by his personal connection to age-related blindness, as his family has a history of macular degeneration, a leading cause of vision loss in older adults. His research has now advanced to human clinical trials, offering hope for treating conditions like macular degeneration and other age-related eye diseases. Lu is recognized as one of MIT Technology Review’s 35 Innovators Under 35 for 2026.

In a rare display of unity, AI industry leaders Dario Amodei, Sam Altman, and Elon Musk have publicly called for a slowdown in AI development to allow for stronger safety measures and regulatory oversight. Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, has advocated for independent monitors and new industry-wide rules to ensure AI systems are developed responsibly. Altman, CEO of OpenAI, supports pacing AI development but not stopping it entirely, while Musk has endorsed Amodei’s stance on X (formerly Twitter). The calls for a slowdown have had immediate economic repercussions, with AI-linked stocks declining in response. Meanwhile, Chinese state media has criticized these calls as a potential Cold War tactic, highlighting global divisions over AI regulation.

The United States and China are engaged in a competitive race to lead AI development, with both countries adopting contrasting approaches to regulation and innovation. In the U.S., former President Trump has downplayed AI risks, prioritizing the competition with China over concerns about safety or ethical implications. Meanwhile, China’s President Xi has proposed open-source AI cooperation among BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) to accelerate AI development. However, China’s state intelligence agency has also warned about AI threats to national security, underscoring the dual nature of its AI ambitions. These tensions reflect broader geopolitical struggles over technological dominance.

The rise of AI agents—autonomous systems capable of performing tasks without direct human control—is creating new challenges for the criminal justice system. Courts are struggling to address legal questions when AI agents act independently, such as who is responsible for their actions or how to prosecute crimes committed by these systems. This issue is compounded by a flood of AI-generated lawsuits, where AI tools are used to create legal claims automatically. The lack of clear legal frameworks for AI autonomy is raising concerns about accountability, fairness, and the potential for misuse in legal proceedings.

The U.S. and Mexico are collaborating on a new strategy to counter drone threats at their border, using high-energy lasers to disable unauthorized drones. This initiative follows concerns about drone-related security risks, including espionage and smuggling. Meanwhile, Ukraine has become a significant market for drone data, where various actors buy and sell information collected by drones, creating a Wild West environment for drone surveillance and intelligence. These developments highlight the growing role of drones in modern security challenges and the need for innovative countermeasures.

Waymo, a self-driving car company, recently reported an incident where one of its vehicles pulled over and alerted police after detecting a loaded AR-style ghost gun—an untraceable firearm—being carried by juveniles. The vehicle’s AI system identified the threat and took action to ensure safety, demonstrating the potential for autonomous vehicles to contribute to public safety. This event underscores the advanced capabilities of AI-powered systems in real-world scenarios and raises questions about their role in law enforcement and emergency response.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is facing a lawsuit alleging that it used photos from these platforms without consent to train its smart glasses technology. The lawsuit claims that Meta violated privacy laws by incorporating user-generated content into its AI systems without obtaining proper permissions. This case highlights ongoing debates about data privacy, consent, and the ethical use of personal information in AI development, particularly as companies increasingly rely on large datasets to train their technologies.

A hidden cryptocurrency mining operation in Mexico has drawn attention to the involvement of criminal cartels in digital currency activities. Authorities are investigating whether the operation stole electricity from a nearby dam to power its mining rigs, which are used to generate cryptocurrency like Bitcoin. This case illustrates how cryptocurrency mining can be exploited by illicit groups to fund their activities, raising concerns about energy theft, financial crimes, and the environmental impact of unregulated mining operations.