Big Technology Podcast

AI's Rising Risks: Hacking, Virology, Loss of Control — With Dan Hendrycks

Mar 26, 2025

Dan Hendrycks, Director and co-founder of the Center for AI Safety, dives deep into the escalating risks of artificial intelligence. He discusses the urgent need for oversight in AI, particularly concerning virology and potential bioweapon applications. Hendrycks warns of hacks enabled by AI and explains the concept of intelligence explosion, where AI could surpass human capabilities. The geopolitical dynamics of AI rivalry, particularly between the U.S. and China, and the dual-use nature of these technologies highlight essential safety discussions for our future.

01:14:55

Episode guests

Dan Hendrycks

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

The misuse of AI by malicious actors, including the potential development of bioweapons, poses immediate risks to society.

The concept of intelligence explosion highlights the danger of losing control over self-improving AIs that surpass human oversight.

AI's ability to conduct autonomous cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure underscores the need for robust cybersecurity measures and proactive defenses.

Deep dives

The Potential Risks of AI Advancements

The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) poses significant risks, particularly concerning its misuse by malicious actors. The likelihood of adversarial uses of AI, such as its weaponization by rogue states or individuals, raises concerns about potential harm to society. While the direct threat of a self-sabotaging AI is more remote, the more immediate dangers stem from humans leveraging these technologies to cause deliberate harm. As AI systems grow in capability, the potential frequency and severity of malicious uses are expected to increase.

Intro

3min

Risks and Responsibilities of AI in Virology

16min

Navigating the AI Landscape: Risks and Rewards

21min

Navigating Social Media Dynamics and Political Discourse

2min

Navigating AI Rivalry and Speech Moderation

10min

The Dangers of AI: Intelligence Explosion and Geopolitical Implications

6min

Navigating AI's Dual Nature

16min

Dan Hendrycks is the Director and co-founder of the Center for AI Safety, and an advisor to Scale AI and xAI. He joins Big Technology Podcast for a discussion of AI's growing risk profile, and what to do about it. Tune in to hear Hendricks explain why virology expertise in AI models is an immediate concern and how these systems might soon enable devastating hacks. We also cover intelligence explosion scenarios, the geopolitical implications of AI development, and why an international AI arms race could lead to faster development than the world can handle. Hit play for an insider's perspective on how governments and AI labs are wrestling with unprecedented technological power that could reshape global security.

Connect with Dan:

https://www.nationalsecurity.ai/

https://x.com/DanHendrycks