2022 Winners

First Place

Curious how others perceived this topic, I asked five family members and friends to watch the 20-minute narrative video that was created to introduce and summarize The Precipice… One of my findings from this brief and informal ‘research’ was the huge variety in opinion – The same statement made by Ord was “interesting” to one and prompted another to say “I don’t care”. Each of us sees the world through specific lenses: outcome- or process-oriented; emotionally- or logically- motivated; pessimistic, pragmatic, or optimistic.

Jessica J, Nova Scotia, Canada

Second Place

Continued ecocide can be seen as an error in two ways: firstly, as a literal mistake (as it is contrary to what we know is the sustainable ideal); and secondly, as a marginal error that could, over time, via butterfly effects, increase the risk of ‘extinction or irrevocable collapse.’

Samuel T C, England, UK

Second Place

There are risk factors that exacerbate each existential risk; one unanalyzed risk factor is humanity actively working against decreasing the chance of irreversible collapse of human civilization and extinction of humanity.

Bronwyn P, Ontario, Canada

Second Place

With the implementation of AI into nuclear command and control (NC3), nuclear weapons systems will become fully autonomous. AI will then control the initiation, trajectory and outcome of nuclear war.

Emily L, California, USA