“Doomsday” date revealed: How could humanity be wiped out?

A new global risk report, prepared by a commission of The Lancet journal based on three years of research by 35 experts, has found that nuclear conflict and the malicious use of artificial intelligence could lead to humanity’s extinction by 2100.

TodayPress TV reports, citing Oxu.Az, that the comprehensive study examined 17 major risks threatening global health and life expectancy. The findings were presented to the public at the World Health Summit in Berlin, Germany.

The report highlights the scale of these threats while stressing that practical solutions exist for each of them.

Although the likelihood of nuclear war and the malicious use of artificial intelligence materialising is considered low, both scenarios rank among the most serious threats because of their potentially devastating consequences. The report notes that nuclear conflicts could block sunlight from reaching the atmosphere, triggering famine, while AI-assisted biological weapons could cause unprecedented catastrophes for humanity. Experts have warned that these risks have the potential to create doomsday scenarios.

Other major threats identified in the report include air pollution, antimicrobial resistance, child malnutrition, the climate crisis, conventional conflicts and cuts to foreign aid.

Obesity and mental health problems are highlighted as major concerns in high-income regions, while low levels of education are identified as key health risks in lower-income regions.

In recent years, many wealthy countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, have reduced their foreign aid budgets, creating additional risks for global health. According to estimates, a decline or collapse in international health assistance could result in the loss of billions of years of healthy life by 2100, with approximately 70% of the impact felt in Africa. The region is also among those hardest hit by the child malnutrition crisis.

Commission members stressed that the report was not intended to frighten people, but rather to serve as a guide for leaders to take action starting today. They noted that billions of years of healthy life could be saved through measures such as limiting temperature increases in response to the climate crisis and investing in technological innovation.