In a recent podcast appearance, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman declared that the world has entered a phase reminiscent of science fiction: the technological singularity. 'We are, so to speak, at the singularity point,' he said on the Relentless podcast, as reported by Business Insider. Altman described the moment as something he has waited for his entire life, calling it 'incredible, extremely positive, and amazing for the world.' The term singularity typically describes a point where technological growth becomes uncontrollable and irreversible, often evoking dystopian visions like Skynet from the Terminator films. Altman, however, expressed optimism and vowed to work against dark AI futures — though he offered no specifics on how.

Altman's comments arrive amid a broader debate about AI's trajectory. Earlier this year, Elon Musk lost a lawsuit against OpenAI that sought to return the company to nonprofit status, partly citing the Terminator scenario as a warning. But while Altman focuses on a positive singularity, a growing number of economists and AI experts are examining a different kind of apocalypse. Their research suggests that the most plausible path to systemic collapse may not involve killer robots or self-aware computers at all.

Instead, these analysts warn that artificial intelligence could undermine the global income tax system, sparking an economic and societal breakdown. 'The apocalypse scenario may have nothing to do with Terminator-style machines,' concludes a report from dozens of experts. For data and ML engineers, this shift in conversation is significant: the risks are not just about alignment and control, but about how AI agents could disrupt financial infrastructure, tax compliance, and government revenue. Altman's singularity might be bright, but the data suggests the real threat could be far more mundane — and far harder to fix.

Source: Lenta.RU