--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we build a machine with the…" description: "\"“If we build a machine with the intellectual capability of one human, within five years, its successor will be more intelligent than all of humanity co..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6c/james-barrat-46869_computers_if-we-build-a-machine-with-the-intellect_312238.jpg" --- # If we build a machine with the intellectual capability of… ![“If we build a machine with the intellectual capability of one human, within five years, its successor will be more intelligent than all of humanity combined. After one generation or two generations, they’d just ignore us. Just the way you ignore the ants in your backyard.” quote by James Barrat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6c/james-barrat-46869_computers_if-we-build-a-machine-with-the-intellect_312238.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6c/james-barrat-46869_computers_if-we-build-a-machine-with-the-intellect_312238.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6c/james-barrat-46869_computers_if-we-build-a-machine-with-the-intellect_312238.jpg) > ““If we build a machine with the intellectual capability of one human, within five years, its successor will be more intelligent than all of humanity combined. After one generation or two generations, they’d just ignore us. Just the way you ignore the ants in your backyard.”” [James Barrat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-barrat/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Predicts rapid AI advancement leading to superintelligence that could disregard humanity, likening it to ignoring ants. **In simple terms:** AI may become vastly smarter and ignore humans. Key Takeaway Prepare for ethical AI development. Themes technology future risk superintelligence humanity Mood cautious concerned Type warning speculative When to use this quote - policy making - AI research - public awareness - risk mitigation Key Concepts AI ethics existential risk technological singularity Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure AI alignment? - What safeguards are feasible? A Different Perspective Assumes linear progress and underestimates control mechanisms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Five years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/five-years/) [Intellectual Capability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual-capability-2961759/) [Intelligent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligent/) [Intelligent Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligent-humanity-2961756/) [Machine Intellectual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machine-intellectual-2961758/) [Successor Intelligent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successor-intelligent-2961757/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) ## Related quotes > [This man, who for twenty-five years has been reading and writing about art, and in all that time has never understood anything about art,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/this-man-who-for-twenty-five-years-has-been-reading-and-writing-about/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [Wrestling introduced me to the idea that my body has a purpose besides trying to look five years younger for the first time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-gilpin/wrestling-introduced-me-to-the-idea-that-my-body-has-a-purpose/) [Betty Gilpin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-gilpin/) > [“Why did I write it down? 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