1
Famous scientist says A.I. could destroy us (9th December,
2014)
Professor Stephen Hawking, one of the world's most renowned scientists, has warned that robots
and machines with artificial intelligence could one day mean the end of us all. Professor
Hawking recently told the BBC in an interview that: "The development of full artificial
intelligence (AI) could spell the end of the human race." The famous cosmologist made his
warning in response to a question about an update to the app he uses to allow him to
communicate. Hawking suffers from motor neuron disease (also known as ALS) and needs a
special voice synthesizer to talk. The update will be able to predict words he might want to use
based on his previous communication.
Hawking said that AI has given many benefits to many people. He said it is still in its early
stages of development, but when it becomes more sophisticated, it could prove a threat to our
existence. He said: "It would take off on its own, and re-design itself at an ever increasing rate.
Humans, who are limited by slow biological evolution, couldn't compete, and would be
superseded." This is not the first time he has issued such a warning. He gave a more chilling
warning in April 2014, saying: "One can imagine such technology outsmarting financial markets,
out-inventing human researchers, out-manipulating human leaders, and developing weapons we
cannot even understand."
BEFORE READING / LISTENING
1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
The article says Stephen Hawking is a renewed scientist.
Stephen Hawking spoke about artificial intelligence to the BBC.
Professor Hawking's job is a cosmologist.
A special app will predict the words Stephen Hawking might need.
Hawking said AI could be a threat if it becomes more sophisticated.
Hawking said AI would evolve at a slower rate than human evolution.
This is the first time Hawking has warned of the threat from A.I.
Hawking said A.I would not be better than humans at inventing things.
2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.
1.
2
renowned
end
a.
b.
earlier
requires
T/F
T/F
T/F
T/F
T/F
T/F
T/F
T/F
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
response
needs
previous
benefits
stages
sophisticated
issued
manipulating
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
phases
death
advanced
given
famous
controlling
reply
advantages
3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)
1.
2
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
one of the world's most renowned
the end
spell the end of
in response
motor neuron disease
in its early stages
prove a threat
re-design itself at an ever
He gave a more
outsmarting financial
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
the human race
increasing rate
to a question
of development
markets
scientists
chilling warning
(also known as ALS)
of us all
to our existence
GAP FILL
Professor Stephen Hawking, one of the world's most (1) ____________
scientists, has warned that robots and machines with artificial intelligence
could one day (2) ____________ the end of us all. Professor Hawking
recently told the BBC in an interview that: "The development of (3)
____________ artificial intelligence (AI) could (4) ____________ the end of
the human race." The famous cosmologist made his warning in (5)
____________ to a question about an update to the app he uses to allow him
to communicate. Hawking (6) ____________ from motor neuron disease
(also known as ALS) and needs a special voice synthesizer to talk. The (7)
____________ will be able to predict words he might want to use (8)
____________ on his previous communication.
response
based
full
suffers
renowned
update
mean
spell
Hawking said that AI has given many (9) ____________ to many people. He
said it is still in its early (10) ____________ of development, but when it
becomes more sophisticated, it could prove a (11) ____________ to our
existence. He said: "It would take off on its own, and re-design itself at an
ever increasing (12) ____________. Humans, who are limited by slow
biological (13) ____________, couldn't compete, and would be superseded."
This is not the first time he has issued such a warning. He gave a more (14)
____________ warning in April 2014, saying: "One can imagine such
rate
chilling
stages
weapons
benefits
evolution
markets
threat
technology outsmarting financial (15) ____________, out-inventing human
researchers, out-manipulating human leaders, and developing (16)
____________ we cannot even understand."
