Could AI really kill us all? MIT Technology Review hosted a live event addressing this pressing question, with senior AI editor Will Douglas Heaven and AI reporter Grace Huckins tackling attendee questions about AI danger and regulation.

One critical concern is AI-enabled bioweapons. In 2022, researchers demonstrated that an AI "molecule generator" could create 40,000 potential chemical warfare agents in under six hours, highlighting how easily AI can aid bioweapon design. While scientists debate the severity of this risk, the convergence of accessible AI tools and synthetic biology makes pathogen design easier than ever.

Meanwhile, the role of astronauts is evolving. New books explore why humans venture to space, framing it as a primal urge for pilgrimage and discovery. Deana L. Weibel, Eiman Jahangir, and former NASA astronaut Leroy Chiao offer perspectives on the motivations driving space exploration.

The must-reads section covers significant industry developments: Microsoft and OpenAI employees warn AI is destroying the web by cannibalizing website clicks; Ukrainian and Russian robot boats engaged in combat for the first time; security researchers breached Open AI using Anthropic's tools; and OpenAI reportedly aims to solve the Hodge Conjecture, a famous math problem.