Five ways AI might destroy the world: ‘Everyone on Earth could fall over dead in the same second’

Artificial intelligence is already advancing at a worrying pace. What if we don't slam on the brakes? Experts explain what keeps them up at night

• Five ways AI could improve the world

Artificial intelligence has progressed so rapidly in recent months that leading researchers have signed an open letter urging an immediate pause in its development, plus stronger regulation, due to their fears that the technology could pose profound risks to society and humanity". But how, exactly, could AI destroy us? Five leading researchers speculate on what could go wrong.