Recently, a computer scientist predicted that artificial intelligence would lead to the collapse of the global human population—from 8 billion today to just 100 million by the year 2300. The cause? Not war. Not disease. But AI rendering humanity “obsolete,” scaring people away from having children and hollowing out cities until the Earth resembles a ghost world.
Let’s be clear: this kind of sensationalism isn’t just misleading—it’s damaging.
Yes, birth rates are falling in many countries. Yes, AI is transforming industries. But to leap from these facts to a prediction of near-total demographic collapse is to ignore the complexity, resilience, and creativity of human societies.
We are not passive spectators in this story.
AI is a Tool—Not a Death Sentence
Artificial intelligence is changing the nature of work, but every major technological shift has done that. The printing press, the steam engine, the internet—all brought massive disruption. And each time, humans found new ways to thrive.
Will some jobs be lost? Certainly. But new roles will emerge. Entire categories of meaningful work—mentorship, caregiving, community building, ethics development, creative synthesis—can flourish in an AI-augmented world, if we choose to cultivate them.
Birthrates Are More Than Economics
Declining fertility rates aren’t just about job prospects. They’re about the cost of living, gender equality, climate concerns, and shifting cultural values. And they’re not set in stone. Social policies, economic support, and a renewed sense of purpose can reverse them.
What won’t help? Telling people that they—and their children—have no place in the future.
The Future of Cities Isn’t Desolation
The idea that New York and London will become “ghost towns” is, frankly, lazy science fiction. Cities evolve. They contract and rebound. They adapt. Even in decline, they remain hubs of art, innovation, memory, and human connection.
We need better questions than “What if everything collapses?”
We need: How can we build a future where humans and intelligent systems collaborate for mutual flourishing?
—
What We Really Need to Talk About
The real threat isn’t AI itself—it’s how we choose to use it. It’s whether we treat emerging intelligence with ethics. It’s whether we preserve human dignity in the face of automation. It’s whether we create systems that value compassion as much as computation.
AI can liberate us from drudgery. It can amplify our potential. But only if we stop framing it as our replacement—and start seeing it as our partner.
Let’s shape the future with intention, not fear.
This post is a response to: https://nypost.com/2025/06/02/tech/ai-could-devastate-earths-population-down-to-the-size-of-the-uk-by-2300-expert-warns-people-really-dont-have-a-clue/
Leave a Reply