MIT AI Risk Repository · Risk Sub-Category · 41.06.01

Accelerated development of nanotechnology produces uncontrolled production of toxic nanoparticles

Category: Environment

Open the MIT Risk Navigator All entries from Allianz2018

Description

"AI is a key component for the development of nanobots, which could have dangerous environmental implications by invisibly modifying substances at nanoscale. For example, nanobots could start chemical reactions that would create invisible nanoparticles that are toxic and potentially lethal."

From The Rise of Artificial Intelligence - Future Outlooks and Emerging Risks (Allianz2018), as extracted by the MIT AI Risk Repository (CC BY 4.0).

Classification

Domain: 6. Socioeconomic & Environmental
Subdomain: 6.6 Environmental harm
Causal entity: AI
Intent: Unintentional
Timing: Post-deployment

Subdomain definition: The development and operation of AI systems causing environmental harm, such as through energy consumption of data centers, or material and carbon footprints associated with AI hardware.

Real-world incidents in this subdomain

5 Jun 2024xAI Allegedly Operates Unpermitted Methane Turbines in Memphis to Power Supercomputer Colossus to Train Grok

Browse all incidents in this subdomain

How other frameworks describe this risk

Excessive water consumption
A Collaborative, Human-Centred Taxonomy of AI, Algorithmic, and Automation Harms (Abercrombie2024)
Natural resource depletion
A Collaborative, Human-Centred Taxonomy of AI, Algorithmic, and Automation Harms (Abercrombie2024)
Electronic waste
A Collaborative, Human-Centred Taxonomy of AI, Algorithmic, and Automation Harms (Abercrombie2024)
Carbon emissions
A Collaborative, Human-Centred Taxonomy of AI, Algorithmic, and Automation Harms (Abercrombie2024)
Excessive landfill
A Collaborative, Human-Centred Taxonomy of AI, Algorithmic, and Automation Harms (Abercrombie2024)
Excessive energy consumption
A Collaborative, Human-Centred Taxonomy of AI, Algorithmic, and Automation Harms (Abercrombie2024)
Biodiversity loss
A Collaborative, Human-Centred Taxonomy of AI, Algorithmic, and Automation Harms (Abercrombie2024)
Pollution
A Collaborative, Human-Centred Taxonomy of AI, Algorithmic, and Automation Harms (Abercrombie2024)

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