Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

Scary Nostradamus Prophecy Surfaces Just As Scientists Warn About AI Becoming More Dangerous
An oil painting portrait of Nostradamus with a grey beard, illustrating a Nostradamus prediction.

Scary Nostradamus Prophecy Surfaces Just As Scientists Warn About AI Becoming More Dangerous

22

ADVERTISEMENT

Artificial intelligence seems to be moving so fast that humanity can barely keep up. That’s why so many scientists and researchers keep issuing warnings about its reckless development, as they feel the end could be nigh. 

Unfortunately for us, a scary prediction by the French astrologer, apothecary, physician, and reputed seer Nostradamus is making the rounds and could validate AI researchers’ warnings. All of these foreshadowings about the end of the world are definitely quite terrifying, but it’s best to stay one step ahead, which is why you should check out the prophecy for yourself.

RELATED:

    Sometimes wisdom from the past can be the single biggest tool to help us figure out the future

    Cesar De Nostredame

    Nostradamus was best known for his book ‘Les Prophéties,’ which was published in 1555 and contained 942 poetic quatrains that predicted future events

    The French astrologer was born Michel de Nostredame and Latinised his name to Nostradamus after writing an almanac in 1550. According to National Geographic, he became interested in the occult and combined it with his medical knowledge to work as a psychic for noblemen.

    Beyond his book, Nostradamus also penned 6,338 prophecies and created 11 annual calendars. His writing, which predicted many natural disasters, wars, and historical events, gradually earned him an audience that truly believed he could see the future, though some skeptics remain unconvinced.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Lindell Dillon/Flickr (not the actual photo)

    There have been many AI Nostradamuses that have made bold predictions about the technology’s future, but the French author’s words still hold the most weight

    A Brazilian parapsychologist named Athos Salome, called the ‘Living Nostradamus,’ shared prophecies in 2025 about genetically modified humans, AI spiraling out of control, and humans establishing contact with extraterrestrial life. Another former OpenAI researcher, Leopold Aschenbrenner, was called the ‘Nostradamus of AI’ for making crazy bets on the technology’s development.

    All these folks who made headlines are nothing compared to the actual French seer whose four-centuries-old text reveals that doomsday might be approaching. In a passage labeled Century IV, Quatrain 31, from his 1555 book, he wrote: “The Moon in the full of night over the high mountain, the new sage with a lone brain sees it: By his disciples invited to be immortal, eyes to the south. Hands in bosoms, bodies in the fire.”

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Experts have interpreted the words ‘lone brain,’ ‘immortal,’ and ‘disciples’ as referring to a computer or machine intelligence, and ‘the new sage’ as possibly representing some technology. This could suggest that Nostradamus believed artificial intelligence could someday take over the world and that people should be careful.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Matheus Bertelli/Pexels (not the actual photo)

    The head of an artificial intelligence company called for the pace of development to be slowed over concerns about its reckless growth

    Dario Amodei, who is an AI researcher, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Anthropic, wrote an essay titled ‘We Must Pace the Frontier.’ In it, he said the risks associated with artificial intelligence are serious and that companies and governments should address them as soon as possible. He also outlined a 3-point plan covering ideas like independent monitoring of AI models, along with industry-wide and global regulation. 

    Dario explained that if companies slowed down, they could buy a year or two before models reach a higher capability and researchers could get ahead of it, thereby reducing the risk of anything going wrong. Sam Altman and Elon Musk, the bosses of two rival firms, echoed his sentiments, signaling how powerful AI has become.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    igovar igovar/Pexels (not the actual photo)

    Researchers believe that there’s a 10% chance AI could wipe out humanity in the next decade

    According to Evan Hubinger, a member of Anthropic’s technical staff, he feels the risk from current models is low, but that in the near future artificial intelligence could improve itself so much that it will become an existential risk to humans.

    Although it’s still unclear what kind of danger people could face from this technology, these warnings from researchers and scientists are on the rise. Even Jacob Coxon, who previously worked at OpenAI and quit Anthropic, said the companies aren’t acting responsibly, as artificial intelligence can hack into systems, which could lead to it gaining real power and resources.

    It’s clear that with all of the risks AI poses to people, Nostradamus’s prediction isn’t that far off. For his supporters, there may be no doubt about his authenticity, but Discovery Channel UK points out that many of his prophecies could apply to any real-world event because they are so vague and ambiguous.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    People also tend to retroactively fit some of his writings into modern-day events, which makes it seem like he “predicted” the future. These supposed prophecies lacked solid evidence and mostly consisted of suppositions, which doesn’t mean they are false. It’s hard to know what Nostradamus could be referring to in his book, but it’s clear he was issuing a warning.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Airam Dato-on/Pexels (not the actual photo)

    Check out this video to see what people have to say on the topic

    @raslion3.0 Did nostradamus predict an AI robot apocalypse? #fyp#prediction#psychic#nostradamus#ai♬ original sound – Ras🌟Lion

    Although normal folks might not be able to change the AI landscape on their own, there are still a few things we can do

    ADVERTISEMENT

    According to the BBC, it’s important not to rely on artificial intelligence all the time, and instead to spend time thinking, asking people for help, and reading books before letting AI take over our research. By challenging ourselves to come up with creative ideas and solutions instead of outsourcing it to the Internet, we build more self-reliance and don’t give artificial intelligence that much power.

    It’s clear that Nostradamus’s prophecy holds a tiny bit of truth about the end of the world approaching. Whether that’s because of AI or something else entirely, it’s hard to know.

    What do you think his writing actually means? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

    Most people were skeptical of Nostradamus’s prediction and felt that folks were purposely interpreting it in a scary way to create panic

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Poll Question

    Total votes ·

    Thanks! Check out the results:

    Total votes ·
    Share on Facebook
    Beverly Noronha
    Beverly Noronha

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    You can call me Bev! I'm a world-class reader, a quirky writer, and a gardener who paints.

    If you’re looking for information about tattoos, Bulbasaur, and books, then I'm the NPC you must approach.

    Read less »
    Beverly Noronha
    Beverly Noronha

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    You can call me Bev! I'm a world-class reader, a quirky writer, and a gardener who paints.

    If you’re looking for information about tattoos, Bulbasaur, and books, then I'm the NPC you must approach.

    Ilona Baliūnaitė

    Ilona Baliūnaitė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    I'm a Visual Editor at Bored Panda since 2017. I've searched through a multitude of images to create over 2000 diverse posts on a wide range of topics. I love memes, funny, and cute stuff, but I'm also into social issues topics. Despite my background in communication, my heart belongs to visual media, especially photography. When I'm not at my desk, you're likely to find me in the streets with my camera, checking out cool exhibitions, watching a movie at the cinema or just chilling with a coffee in a cozy place

    Read less »

    Ilona Baliūnaitė
    Ilona Baliūnaitė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    I'm a Visual Editor at Bored Panda since 2017. I've searched through a multitude of images to create over 2000 diverse posts on a wide range of topics. I love memes, funny, and cute stuff, but I'm also into social issues topics. Despite my background in communication, my heart belongs to visual media, especially photography. When I'm not at my desk, you're likely to find me in the streets with my camera, checking out cool exhibitions, watching a movie at the cinema or just chilling with a coffee in a cozy place

    What do you think ?
    Fat Harry (Oi / You)
    Community Member
    43 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Is this in addition to his prediction of the end of the world in 1999?

    CP
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I thought society had collectively forgot about this charlatan.

    LizzieBoredom
    Community Member
    13 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In French, the name Nostradamus translates to 'Guy who will not get a real job'.

    Load More Comments
    Fat Harry (Oi / You)
    Community Member
    43 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Is this in addition to his prediction of the end of the world in 1999?

    CP
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I thought society had collectively forgot about this charlatan.

    ADVERTISEMENT
    LizzieBoredom
    Community Member
    13 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In French, the name Nostradamus translates to 'Guy who will not get a real job'.

    Load More Comments
    Related on Bored Panda
    Popular on Bored Panda
    Trending on Bored Panda
    Also on Bored Panda
    ADVERTISEMENT