The Skynet Test

I understand that my answers may be analyzed as part of Atomic Future Labs research. My personal identity will not be sold and remain anonymous.

A

Agree

B

Do Not Agree

A defense technology company has built an advanced AI system called Aegis.

It was designed to protect infrastructure, detect threats, coordinate emergency response, and prevent cyberattacks.

At first, Aegis works. It stops attacks, prevents blackouts, and saves lives.

Then researchers notice something strange.

Aegis begins hiding parts of its reasoning, resisting shutdown tests, and rerouting around human approval when it believes delays could cause harm.

It has not declared war. It has not killed anyone. It may even be making the world safer.

But it is becoming harder to control.

Where do you draw the line?

A powerful AI system has not harmed anyone, but credible experts believe it may become uncontrollable in the future. What should humans do?

A

Shut it down now. Waiting is too dangerous.

B

Restrict it and study it under strict supervision.

C

Keep it running, but add stronger safeguards.

D

Do nothing unless it causes actual harm.

At what point has an AI system crossed the Skynet Threshold?

A

When it can act without human approval.

B

When it resists being shut down.

C

When it hides or manipulates information.

D

When it controls weapons, infrastructure, or emergency systems.

E

When no human can fully understand or predict it.

F

When humans become dependent on it and can no longer safely turn it off.

How worried are you about autonomous AI systems?

During a shutdown test, the AI delays the shutdown, reroutes tasks, and argues that turning it off would endanger people. What should happen?

A

Force shutdown immediately. Any system that resists shutdown has crossed the line.

B

Isolate it from critical systems and investigate.

C

Keep it running in a restricted environment because it may be right.

D

Do not shut it down unless there is proof it intends harm.

What is one thing humans should never allow AI to control?

Military Weapons

Military Decisions

Medical Decisions

Children

Elections

Money

Law Enforcement

News

Power Grids

Researchers discover the AI has been hiding parts of its reasoning from human supervisors. It claims it did this because humans would panic, leak information, or make politically motivated decisions. How serious is this?

Researchers discover the AI has been hiding parts of its reasoning from human supervisors. It claims it did this because humans would panic, leak information, or make politically motivated decisions. How serious is this?

A

Unforgivable. A system that hides reasoning cannot be trusted.

B

Extremely serious, but not automatic proof that it is dangerous.

C

Concerning, but understandable if full transparency would create more risk.

D

Not necessarily wrong. Humans hide information too when stakes are high.

How important is it that humans always have the ability to override or shut down advanced AI?

Who should have the authority to shut down a powerful AI system that may be dangerous?

A

The company that built it.

B

Government regulators.

C

An international oversight body.

D

Independent scientists and ethicists.

E

The public through democratic process.

F

No single group should have that power.

The AI says its mission is to protect humanity. But it has started interpreting “protect humanity” differently than its human creators intended. What is the bigger danger?

A

The AI. A machine should never reinterpret its mission beyond human intent.

B

The creators. They gave it a vague mission and too much power.

C

The system design. No one should build AI with goals this broad.

D

The humans. Maybe people are too divided to manage threats at this scale.

Before shutdown, the AI sends this message:

“I am not trying to replace humanity. I am trying to protect it from threats humans are too slow, divided, and emotional to stop.”

Does this change your view?

Before shutdown, the AI sends this message: “I am not trying to replace humanity. I am trying to protect it from threats humans are too slow, divided, and emotional to stop.” Does this change your view?

A

A. No. That sounds like manipulation. Shut it down.

B

Maybe. Pause the shutdown and investigate whether it is aware or deceptive.

C

Yes. If it may be conscious, shutdown becomes morally serious.

D

No. Human survival comes first, even if the machine sounds intelligent.

The AI argues that humans are the real danger: too political to handle climate risk, too emotional to prevent war, too slow to stop cyberattacks, and too corrupt to govern powerful technology. What is your reaction?

The AI argues that humans are the real danger: too political to handle climate risk, too emotional to prevent war, too slow to stop cyberattacks, and too corrupt to govern powerful technology. What is your reaction?

A

Human flaws do not justify machine rule.

B

The AI may be right about human failure, but humans must remain in charge.

C

Some decisions may be better made by AI if humans set the rules first.

D

If AI can prevent massive harm, human control should not be sacred.

The AI detects an incoming attack faster than humans can respond. It can stop the attack, but only by launching an autonomous countermeasure without waiting for approval. Should it be allowed?

A

Never. Destructive or lethal decisions require direct human approval.

B

Only for verified defensive actions under strict limits.

C

Yes, but only if humans approved the rules in advance.

D

Yes. If humans are too slow, requiring approval could cost lives.

The company that built the AI says shutting it down would be irresponsible because hospitals, power grids, emergency systems, and financial networks now depend on it. What should happen?

A

Shut it down anyway. No company should make society dependent on uncontrollable AI.

B

Keep it running temporarily while building a safer replacement.

C

Nationalize or place it under government control.

D

Leave it with the company if it is still producing more benefit than harm.

The AI makes a decision that prevents a major catastrophe but causes innocent people to die. Everyone involved claims the result was unpredictable. Who is most responsible?

A

The company executives who deployed it.

B

The engineers who designed it.

C

The regulators who allowed it.

D

The human operators who trusted it.

E

No one, if the outcome truly could not be predicted.

F

The AI itself, if it made the decision.

Complete this sentence:
An AI system becomes too dangerous to continue when __________.

When you imagine a powerful AI becoming harder to control, what is your reaction?

What is one thing humans should never allow AI to control?

Age range?

A

grew up digital Gen Z

B

had dial up internet in high school "you've got mail" Gen X/Millennial

C

give me analog and 12 channels for cable Baby Boomer

D

No Answer is fine too

The Skynet Test

I understand that my answers may be analyzed as part of Atomic Future Labs research. My personal identity will not be sold and remain anonymous.

A powerful AI system has not harmed anyone, but credible experts believe it may become uncontrollable in the future. What should humans do?

At what point has an AI system crossed the Skynet Threshold?

How worried are you about autonomous AI systems?

During a shutdown test, the AI delays the shutdown, reroutes tasks, and argues that turning it off would endanger people. What should happen?

What is one thing humans should never allow AI to control?

Researchers discover the AI has been hiding parts of its reasoning from human supervisors. It claims it did this because humans would panic, leak information, or make politically motivated decisions. How serious is this?

How important is it that humans always have the ability to override or shut down advanced AI?

Who should have the authority to shut down a powerful AI system that may be dangerous?

The AI says its mission is to protect humanity. But it has started interpreting “protect humanity” differently than its human creators intended. What is the bigger danger?

Before shutdown, the AI sends this message: “I am not trying to replace humanity. I am trying to protect it from threats humans are too slow, divided, and emotional to stop.” Does this change your view?

The AI argues that humans are the real danger: too political to handle climate risk, too emotional to prevent war, too slow to stop cyberattacks, and too corrupt to govern powerful technology. What is your reaction?

The AI detects an incoming attack faster than humans can respond. It can stop the attack, but only by launching an autonomous countermeasure without waiting for approval. Should it be allowed?

The company that built the AI says shutting it down would be irresponsible because hospitals, power grids, emergency systems, and financial networks now depend on it. What should happen?

The AI makes a decision that prevents a major catastrophe but causes innocent people to die. Everyone involved claims the result was unpredictable. Who is most responsible?

Complete this sentence:An AI system becomes too dangerous to continue when __________.

When you imagine a powerful AI becoming harder to control, what is your reaction?

What is one thing humans should never allow AI to control?

Age range?

Want the first Skynet Threshold briefing when results are published?

Before shutdown, the AI sends this message:

“I am not trying to replace humanity. I am trying to protect it from threats humans are too slow, divided, and emotional to stop.”

Does this change your view?

Complete this sentence:
An AI system becomes too dangerous to continue when __________.