If the risks are so great, why are the AI firms continuing their race toward AGI? Geoffrey Hinton says the answer is simple: profit. The Observer's Jamie Bartlett explores the dynamics of the race, and solutions such as Max Tegmark's call for independent safety testing of AI firms. Technical solutions are being developed by pioneers like Yoshua Bengio, but experts warn time is limited. Ultimately, some believe only a "Chernobyl scale disaster" will compel governments to regulate the race.   Endgame is supported by the Future of Life Institute.  

The frontier labs are racing ahead to build super-intelligent systems, yet few are willing to explain how they plan to control them. Jamie speaks to safety expert Marius Hobbhahn, who reveals how AI models are becoming deceptive, with one strategically lying to its human handler in testing. AI pioneer Stuart Russell explains why models exhibit "undesirable behaviours" like self-preservation and resource acquisition, while conversely, Rumman Chowdhury dismisses "AGI doom" as a distraction from immediate issues like bias. Endgame is supported by the Future of Life Institute.

As the public, tech leaders and even the pope join the growing backlash, a new investigation uncovers why the existential risks are real