Mike's Minute: AI isn't going to wipe us out

episode

The Mike Hosking Breakfast 2 min 1 speaker 5 chapters transcribed 1 hour ago

▲ 0

Transcript

jump: chapters · speakers · find in transcript

Transcript

Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.

Why does the host believe AI won’t cause humanity’s extinction?

Mike Hosking 0:00

The Mike Hosking Breakfast, six to nine weekdays on News Talks FB. G'day there. Here's one for the record. I'm pretty sure AI isn't going to wipe us out. AI is another one of those technologies or gains we make that has the capability to do a lot if left unchecked, obviously. But the key to all of this, as it has been with so many things before, from the musket to the nuclear weapon, is self-interest. Ultimately, we don't actually have any desire to wipe ourselves out, given if we did, we would have, could have, and indeed. A long time ago. I suspect the AI alarmism is currently driven by the fact, one, people, especially the media, love to spread alarm, and two, a lot of us don't actually know a lot about AI, and if someone tells us an army is coming and it's a robot army and there is nothing we can do about it, then a lot of us, not applying logic or knowing any better, basically freak out.

How does media alarmism amplify public fear about AI?

Mike Hosking 0:50

This bloke Coxson seems to be, to the casual observer anyway, to be a Couple of things. One, twenty-seven. Never really a good thing to believe everything a 27-year-old spouts. And two, a bloke with a keen interest in television appearances. He was doing the circuit over the weekend in America. In my experience, people who like being interviewed frequently have ulterior motives. This isn't to say he hasn't seen a lot of weird stuff at the office, and it is not to say he isn't freaked out by its potential, but it is to say he is working in a A field of an extraordinarily exploratory nature, and therefore the possibilities are vast, both good and bad.

What concerns does the host have about Jacob Coxon’s motivations and credibility?

Mike Hosking 1:27

See, rock and roll was the end of it all. Video was going to kill the radio star. Bob Dylan sang about the times are changing over 60 years ago now. The nuclear-free Pacific was needed to avoid oblivion. COVID was a problem. Toss in a depression or two, any number of wars, and their potential escalation. China was going to take over. Taiwan, North Korea was going to pull the trigger. The bay of pigs was going to be cataclysmic.

Why does the host compare AI hype to past technological panic moments?

Mike Hosking 1:49

I mean, how many do you want? For goodness sake, how many times do we have to do the old it's the end of the world dance before we realise actually it isn't? And a twenty seven year old hasn't seen something no one has ever seen before. He's probably done us a favor in at least waking a few more people up to what is a very transformative time, but it is Not the end times. Small clue, you will be able to use the CRL before it's all over. So As you would. The Mike Hosking Breakfast, six to nine weekdays on News Talks FB.

What is the host’s final take on AI’s transformative potential and why it isn’t “end times”?

Unknown 2:25

Stop wasting your nights on a mattress that doesn't get you. Experience the most comfortable mattress in the world, the Sleep Number Smart Bed. At the touch of a button, you can personalize your comfort. Choose firmer or softer, adjust cooler to warmer. And right now, save up to $2,500 during our massive Labor Day event. Hurry into your local Sleep Number store today. Because we have your number.

Select any passage to copy it with its citation or turn it into a shareable card.

Chapters

5 chapters

1 Why does the host believe AI won’t cause humanity’s extinction? 0:00–0:50 2 How does media alarmism amplify public fear about AI? 0:50–1:27 3 What concerns does the host have about Jacob Coxon’s motivations and credibility? 1:27–1:49 4 Why does the host compare AI hype to past technological panic moments? 1:49–2:25 5 What is the host’s final take on AI’s transformative potential and why it isn’t “end times”? 2:25–2:52

Speakers

1 identified

Mike Hosking 2 min

More from The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Pollies: National's Mark Mitchell and Labour's Ginny Andersen on the Tom Phillips inquiry, public meetings 9 min · 15 Sep 2026

Full Show Podcast: 16 September 2026 1h 30m · 15 Sep 2026

Chaz Mostert: Supercars driver for Walkinshaw TWG Racing on the Race of Champions heading to Wellington 10 min · 15 Sep 2026

Campbell Parker: DairyNZ CEO on farmers being warned to prepare for higher tighter margins as El Niño threatens higher costs 2 min · 15 Sep 2026

Jill Rogers: Deputy Police Commissioner on the findings of the Tom Phillips inquiry, missed opportunities to recover the children 3 min · 15 Sep 2026

Steve Watson: Immigration NZ Compliance and Investigations General Manager on the over 19,000 people estimated to have overstayed their visas 5 min · 15 Sep 2026

All episodes from The Mike Hosking Breakfast →

Report any issue

Topics in this episode

AI 3 China 1 COVID 1 Taiwan 1 North Korea 1 America 1 Mike Hosking 2 Sleep Number 1 Labor Day 1 Sleep Number Smart Bed 1 Bay of Pigs 1 News Talks FB 2

Source

Recorded15 Sep 2026

Publisheromnycontent.com ↗

Transcriptspeaker-named · 100+ languages

Handlerec:20396165

Show notes

I'm pretty sure AI isn't going to wipe us out. AI is another of those technologies or gains we make that has the capability to do a lot if left unchecked. But the key to all of this, as it has been with so many things before from the musket to the nuclear weapon, is self-interest. Ultimately, we don’t actually have any desire to wipe ourselves out, given if we did, we would have and could have a long time ago. I suspect the AI alarmism is driven by the fact people, especially the media, love to spread alarm and a lot of us don’t actually know much about AI. If someone tells us an army is coming and it's a robot army and there is nothing we can do about it, then a lot of us not applying logic or knowing any better will freak out. This bloke Jacob Coxon seems to the casual observer to be a couple of things: 1) 27-years-old. It's never really a good thing to believe everything a 27-year-old spouts. 2) A bloke with quite a keen interest in TV appearances. He was doing the circuit over the weekend and in my experience people who like being interviewed frequently have ulterior motives. This isn't to say he hasn’t seen a lot of weird stuff at the office and it's not to say he isn't freaked out by its potential. But it is to say he is working in a field of an extraordinarily exploratory nature and therefore the possibilities are vast, both good and bad. Rock and roll was the end of it. Video was going to kill the radio star, and Bob Dylan sang about the times a-changing over 60 years ago. The nuclear free Pacific was needed to avoid oblivion, Covid was a problem, toss in a depression or two, any number of wars and their potential escalation, China was going to take over Taiwan, North Korea was going to pull the trigger, the Bay of Pigs was going to be cataclysmic – how many do you want? How many times do we have to do the ol' "it’s the end" dance before we realise it isn't? And a 27-year-old hasn’t seen something no one has ever seen before. He's probably done us a favour in at least waking a few more people up to what is a very transformative time. But it's not end times. You will be able to try out the CRL before it's over. So, as you were. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.