Tech

Stephen Hawking warns A.I. threatens mankind

Stephen Hawking gives a lecture on the Spanish Canary island of Tenerife on September 23, 2014.
Desiree Martin | AFP | Getty Images

Cosmologist Stephen Hawking warned that independent artificial intelligence could doom mankind.

"The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race," Hawking told the BBC.

Read More 'Robot overlords': Coming our way soon?

While Hawking admits there are many benefits to the artificial intelligence developed so far, further refinements may mean the program "would take off on its own and redesign itself at an ever-increasing rate." Humans, according to Hawking, are limited by slow evolution and cannot compete.

Why Roger McNamee isn't worried about AI
VIDEO2:3902:39
Why Roger McNamee isn't worried about AI
Elon Musk on AI: It's like 'summoning the demon'
VIDEO1:0701:07
Elon Musk on AI: It's like 'summoning the demon'
Sounding the alarm on artificial intelligence
VIDEO1:1301:13
Sounding the alarm on artificial intelligence

Hawking, subject of the current biopic "The Theory of Everything," already uses a form of artificial intelligence to help him speak.

Read More Elon Musk's deleted message: Five years until 'dangerous' AI

The scientist suffers from the motor neuron disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and uses a program designed by Intel and Swiftkey to speak. The program—using Hawking's now famous robotic voice—learns how he thinks and suggests words he might want to use.

Hawking is not alone in fearing artificial intelligence. In October, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said artificial intelligence is humanity's biggest existential threat.

Read the BBC story here.