Ai Extinction

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Level 6 - 1st April 2024

AI an 'extinction-level threat' says study by experts
FREE online quizzes, mp3 listening and more for this lesson here:
https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2404/240401-ai-extinction.html
Contents
The Article 2 Discussion (Student-Created Qs) 15
Warm-Ups 3 Language Work (Cloze) 16
Vocabulary 4 Spelling 17
Before Reading / Listening 5 Put The Text Back Together 18
Gap Fill 6 Put The Words In The Right Order 19
Match The Sentences And Listen 7 Circle The Correct Word 20
Listening Gap Fill 8 Insert The Vowels (a, e, i, o, u) 21
Comprehension Questions 9 Punctuate The Text And Add Capitals 22
Multiple Choice - Quiz 10 Put A Slash ( / ) Where The Spaces Are 23
Role Play 11 Free Writing 24
After Reading / Listening 12 Academic Writing 25
Student Survey 13 Homework 26
Discussion (20 Questions) 14 Answers 27
Please try Levels 4 and 5 (they are easier).
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THE ARTICLE
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2404/240401-ai-extinction.html
A report commissioned by the U.S. State Department has warned of
the existential threat from artificial intelligence. The report posited a
worst-case-scenario "extinction-level threat" to humanity. The authors
identified a "growing risk to national security posed by rapidly expanding
AI capabilities from weaponisation and loss of control". The report added
that there was a "clear and urgent need" for the U.S. government to
intervene "quickly and decisively". It continued: "The rise of advanced AI
has the potential to destabilise global security in ways reminiscent of the
introduction of nuclear weapons." The report calls for a new federal
agency to regulate companies developing AI tools and to limit the growth
of AI.
The 247-page report was commissioned by the State Department in
November 2022. It was written by a company that provides technical
briefings and guidance on AI. The authors spoke extensively to experts at
AI companies like OpenAI, Google DeepMind and Meta. The authors
recommended setting an upper limit on how much computing power an
AI model could have. They also recommended making it a criminal
offence to open-source or reveal the coding behind more powerful AI
models. The Futurism.com website stated: "Over half of the AI
researchers surveyed say there's a five per cent chance that humans will
be driven to extinction, among other 'extremely bad outcomes.'"
Sources: https://futurism.com/state-department-ai-warning-compute
https://time.com/6898967/ai-extinction-national-security-risks-report/
https://www.commondreams.org/news/state-department-commissioned-report-warns-a-i-could-
be-an-extinction-level-threat
Level 6 AI an 'extinction-level threat' says study by experts – 1st April 2024

More free lessons at breakingnewsenglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2024 2
WARM-UPS
1. EXTINCTION: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about
extinction. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will
the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
report / existential threats / worst-case scenario / risk / national security / AI tools /

briefings / guidance / experts / AI companies / computing power / criminal / bad
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. THE END: Students A strongly believe AI will be the end for the human race;
Students B strongly believe otherwise. Change partners again and talk about your
conversations.
4. ARTIFICIAL: What are the pros and cons of these artificial or fake things??
Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.
Pros Cons
Intelligence
Watches
Tans
Plants
Sweeteners
Light
5. INTELLIGENCE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you
associate with the word "intelligence". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about
them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. EXISTENTIAL THREATS: Rank these with your partner. Put the biggest
existential threats at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.
• Artificial intelligence • Climate change

• Pandemics • An asteroid hit
• Water shortages • A coronal mass ejection
• Cyber wars • An alien invasion

VOCABULARY MATCHING
Paragraph 1
1. existential a. To come between people or something or

interrupt something happening (often to
make it better).
2. posited b. Relating to a system of government where
power is divided between a central authority
and individual states or regions.
3. scenario c. Relating to existence or the state of being
alive.
4. intervene d. A description of a possible sequence of
events or situation.
5. decisively e. Suggested or proposed as an idea or theory.
6. reminiscent f. In a way that settles an issue or makes a

clear decision.
7. federal g. A reminder of something else, bringing back
memories.
Paragraph 2
8. commissioned h. Short meetings or sessions where

information or instructions are given.
9. briefings i. In great detail or to a large extent.
10. extensively j. To make something known or visible that

was previously hidden or unknown.
11. offense k. Officially assigned or given a task or job.
12. open source l. The state of no longer existing, especially in

reference to species or groups of animals or
plants.
13. reveal m. Software or information that is freely
available for anyone to use, modify, or
distribute.
14. extinction n. A violation or breaking of a rule or law.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING
1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).
1. The U.S. Defense Department commissioned a report on AI dangers. T/F

2. The report said a worst-case scenario will happen withing a decade. T/F
3. The report said the government must act quickly on AI. T/F
4. The report said AI was a threat comparable to that of nuclear weapons. T/F
5. The report was written by State Department employees. T/F
6. Authors of the report spoke to AI about AI. T/F
7. The authors recommending capping computer power for AI models. T/F
8. AI researchers said AI would bring many good outcomes. T/F
2. SYNONYM MATCH: (The words in bold are from the news article.)
1. commissioned a. information
2. threat b. presented
3. posed c. consequences
4. urgent d. similar to
5. reminiscent of e. ceiling
6. briefings f. ordered
7. limit g. critical
8. offence h. forced
9. driven i. danger
10. outcomes j. crime
3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)
1. A report commissioned a. reveal the coding

2. warned of the existential threat b. agency to regulate companies
3. The report posited a worst-case c. outcomes
4. intervene quickly d. scenario
5. The report calls for a new federal e. an upper limit
6. a company that provides technical f. by the U.S. State Department
7. The authors recommended setting g. and decisively
8. a criminal offence to open-source or h. briefings and guidance on AI
9. a five per cent chance that humans i. from artificial intelligence
10. extremely bad j. will be driven to extinction

GAP FILL
A report commissioned by the U.S. State Department has rapidly

warned of the existential (1) _____________________ from artificial
reminiscent
intelligence. The report posited a worst-case-scenario
threat
"extinction-level threat" to (2) _____________________. The authors
identified a "growing risk to national security posed by agency
(3) _____________________ expanding AI capabilities from loss

weaponisation and (4) _____________________ of control". The report
humanity
added that there was a "clear and urgent need" for the U.S.
growth
government to intervene "quickly and (5) _____________________".
It continued: "The rise of advanced AI has the potential to decisively
destabilise global security in ways (6) _____________________ of the

introduction of nuclear weapons." The report calls for a new
federal (7) _____________________ to regulate companies developing
AI tools and to limit the (8) _____________________ of AI.
The 247-page report was (9) _____________________ by the State extensively

Department in November 2022. It was written by a company driven
that provides technical (10) _____________________ and guidance on
commissioned
AI. The authors spoke (11) _____________________ to experts at AI
companies like OpenAI, Google DeepMind and Meta. The authors criminal
recommended setting an (12) _____________________ limit on how briefings

much computing power an AI model could have. They also
surveyed
recommended making it a (13) _____________________ offence to
upper
open-source or reveal the (14) _____________________ behind more
powerful AI models. The Futurism.com website stated: "Over coding
half of the AI researchers (15) _____________________ say there's a

five per cent chance that humans will be
(16) _____________________ to extinction, among other 'extremely
bad outcomes.'"

LISTENING – Guess the answers. Listen to check.
1) A report commissioned by the U.S. State Department has warned of ______

a. the existential treat
b. the existential thread
c. the existential threat
d. the existential tread
2) The report posited a ______
a. worst case-scene aria
b. worst case-scent trio
c. worst case-scene aura
d. worst case-scenario
3) The authors identified a "growing risk to national security posed by ______
a. rapidly expanding AI
b. rapidly expand in AI
c. rapidly expand din AI
d. rapidly expand ring AI
4) The report added that there was a clear and urgent need for the U.S. ______
a. government to intervenes
b. government to intervened
c. government to intervene
d. government to inter vine
5) regulate companies developing AI tools and to limit the ______
a. grown of AI
b. growl of AI
c. growth of AI
d. gloat of AI
6) It was written by a company that provides technical briefings and ______
a. guy dance on AI
b. guide dance on AI
c. guy dents on AI
d. guidance on AI
7) The authors recommended setting ______
a. an uppity limit
b. an up per limit
c. a nuptial limit
d. an upper limit
8) recommended making it a criminal offence to open-source or ______
a. reveal the coding
b. reveal the ceding
c. reveal the codeine
d. reveal the co-din
9) Over half of the AI researchers surveyed say there's a five ______
a. per cent chants
b. per cent chance
c. per cent chains
d. per cent chance
10) humans will be driven to extinction, among other ______
a. extremely bad doubt comes
b. extremely bad outcomes
c. extremely bat outcomes
d. extremely bat doubt comes

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps
A report commissioned by the U.S. State Department
(1) ____________________ the existential threat from artificial intelligence.
The report (2) ____________________-case-scenario "extinction-level
threat" to humanity. The authors identified a "growing risk to national
security posed (3) ____________________ AI capabilities from
weaponisation and loss of control". The report added that there was a "clear
and urgent need" for the U.S. government to intervene
"(4) ____________________". It continued: "The rise of advanced AI has
(5) ____________________ destabilise global security in ways reminiscent
of the introduction of nuclear weapons." The report calls for a new federal
agency to regulate companies developing AI tools and to
(6) ____________________ of AI.
The 247-page report was commissioned by the State Department in
November 2022. It (7) ____________________ a company that provides
technical (8) ____________________ on AI. The authors spoke extensively
to experts at AI companies like OpenAI, Google DeepMind and Meta. The
authors recommended setting (9) ____________________ on how much
computing power an AI model could have. They also recommended making
it a criminal offence to (10) ____________________ the coding behind more
powerful AI models. The Futurism.com website stated:
"(11) ____________________ the AI researchers surveyed say there's a five
per cent chance that humans will be driven to extinction, among other
(12) ____________________.'"

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
1. Who commissioned the report into AI?
2. What kind of scenario did the report look into?
3. What did the report say rapidly growing AI capabilities were a risk to?
4. What did the report say the threat of AI was reminiscent of?
5. What did the report call for a new federal agency to limit?
6. When was the report commissioned?
7. What do the report authors provide?
8. What did the authors recommend setting on AI computing power?
9. What did the authors say it should be illegal to reveal?
10. What kind of outcomes did researchers say AI might lead to?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ
1) Who commissioned the report into 6) When was the report

AI? commissioned?
a) the FBI a) October 2022
b) the U.S. Defence Department b) November 2022
c) the U.S. State Department c) December 2022
d) the CIA d) September 2022
2) What kind of scenario did the 7) What do the report authors

report look into? provide?
a) a worst-case scenario a) lots of information
b) a cyber scenario b) lots of statistics
c) an interesting scenario c) a worrying look at the future
d) a thought-provoking scenario d) technical briefings and guidance on
AI
3) What did the report say rapidly
growing AI capabilities were a risk 8) What did the authors recommend
to? setting on AI computing power?
a) Washington D.C. a) a lower limit
b) national security b) an upper limit
c) the future of microchips c) the number of microprocessors
d) AI engineers d) the number of computers
4) What did the report say the threat 9) What did the authors say it should
of AI was reminiscent of? be illegal to reveal?
a) the invention of the wheel a) the names of AI engineers
b) early science fiction movies b) the coding behind more powerful
c) the invention of the gun AI models
d) the introduction of nuclear c) passwords
weapons d) the future plans of AI companies
5) What did the report call for a new 10) What kind of outcomes did
federal agency to limit? researchers say AI might lead to?
a) the number of AI companies a) extremely bad outcomes
b) spending on AI b) multiple outcomes
c) the growth of AI c) varied outcomes
d) the intelligence of AI d) positive outcomes

ROLE PLAY
Role A – Artificial Intelligence

You think A.I. is the biggest threat to humanity. Tell the others
three reasons why. Tell them why their threats are survivable.
Also, tell the others which is the least deadly of these (and
why): climate change, a pandemic or a coronal mass ejection.
Role B – Climate Change

You think climate change is the biggest threat to humanity. Tell
the others three reasons why. Tell them why their threats are
survivable. Also, tell the others which is the least deadly of
these (and why): A.I., a pandemic or a coronal mass ejection.
Role C – A Pandemic
You think a pandemic is the biggest threat to humanity. Tell
the others three reasons why. Tell them why their threats are
survivable. Also, tell the others which is the least deadly of
these (and why): climate change, A.I. or a coronal mass
ejection.
Role D – A Coronal Mass Ejection

You think a coronal mass ejection is the biggest threat to
humanity. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why
their threats are survivable. Also, tell the others which is the
least deadly of these (and why): climate change, a pandemic
or A.I..

AFTER READING / LISTENING
1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates,

other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'A.I.' and
'extinction'.
A.I. extinction
• Share your findings with your partners.

• Make questions using the words you found.
• Ask your partner / group your questions.
2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down

some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.
• Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
• Ask your partner / group your questions.
3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise.

Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new,
interesting, worth learning…?
4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups,

pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.
5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try
to recall how they were used in the text:
• warned • 2022
• worst • guidance
• growing • upper
• need • criminal
• potential • behind
• tools • chance

EXTINCTION SURVEY
Write five GOOD questions about extinction in the table. Do this in pairs. Each
student must write the questions on his / her own paper.
When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.
STUDENT 1 STUDENT 2 STUDENT 3
_____________ _____________ _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.
• Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found
out. Change partners often.
• Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

EXTINCTION DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1. What did you think when you read the headline?

2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'A.I.'?
3. What do you think of artificial intelligence?
4. How has artificial intelligence changed your life?
5. What other existential threats are there to humanity?
6. How much of an existential threat to humanity is AI?
7. What are the threats of AI?
8. What can governments do to keep us safe from potential AI harm?
9. How dangerous is AI compared to nuclear weapons?
10. How is it possible to limit the growth of AI?
AI an 'extinction-level threat' says study by experts – 1st April 2024

Thousands more free lessons at breakingnewsenglish.com
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EXTINCTION DISCUSSION
STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
11. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?

12. What do you think of when you hear the word 'extinction'?
13. What do you think about what you read?
14. What do you think of OpenAI and Google Gemini?
15. What criminal offences should be created regarding AI?
16. What will happen when AI becomes more intelligent than humans?
17. How dangerous is revealing the code behind AI models?
18. What do you think of predictions of human extinction?
19. What will AI be like in ten years from now?
20. What questions would you like to ask AI engineers?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1. ________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________________
5. ________________________________________________________
6. ________________________________________________________
Copyright © breakingnewsenglish.com 2024
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1. ________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________________
5. ________________________________________________________
6. ________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE
A report commissioned by the U.S. State Department has warned of the existential
(1) ____ from artificial intelligence. The report posited a worst-case-scenario
"extinction-level threat" to humanity. The authors (2) ____ a "growing risk to

national security posed by rapidly expanding AI capabilities from weaponisation and
(3) ____ of control". The report added that there was a "clear and urgent need" for
the U.S. government to (4) ____ "quickly and decisively". It continued: "The rise of
advanced AI has the potential to destabilise global security (5) ____ ways
reminiscent of the introduction of nuclear weapons." The report calls for a new
(6)____ agency to regulate companies developing AI tools and to limit the growth
of AI.
The 247-page report was commissioned by the State Department in November

2022. It was written by a company that provides technical (7) ____ and guidance on
AI. The authors spoke extensively to experts at AI companies like OpenAI, Google
DeepMind and Meta. The authors recommended (8) ____ an upper limit on how
much computing power an AI model could have. They also recommended making it
a criminal offence to (9) ____ or reveal the coding (10) ____ more powerful AI
models. The Futurism.com website stated: "Over half of the AI researchers
____ say there's a five per cent chance that humans will be driven to extinction,
(11)
among other 'extremely bad (12) ____.'"
Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.
1. (a) treat (b) threaten (c) threat (d) treaty
2. (a) identified (b) clocked (c) sympathized (d) equated
3. (a) loss (b) lots (c) lest (d) least

4. (a) intervene (b) intercede (c) interview (d) interplay
5. (a) at (b) in (c) of (d) as
6. (a) fed up (b) fedora (c) feral (d) federal

7. (a) conciseness (b) shortening (c) briefings (d) minimalise
8. (a) setter (b) settler (c) sets (d) setting

9. (a) open-source (b) open-sauce (c) closed-sauce (d) closed-source
10. (a) ahead (b) behind (c) adjacent (d) before
11. (a) scurvy (b) surveyed (c) surveilled (d) served
12. (a) incomes (b) outgoings (c) outcomes (d) ongoing

SPELLING
Paragraph 1
1. A report cimissneomdo by the U.S. State Department
2. the etasltxiine threat
3. a worst-case conraesi
4. opitasnniweao and loss of control
5. enteveirn quickly and decisively
6. rtsenimeinc of the introduction
Paragraph 2
7. technical sgfirnebi
8. ncegadiu on AI
9. The authors spoke etvxniyesle
10. making it a criminal fncfoee
11. half of the AI researchers rseveyud
12. lxeeeymrt bad outcomes

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( ) stated: "Over half of the AI researchers surveyed say there's a five

per cent
( ) from artificial intelligence. The report posited a worst-case-scenario

"extinction-level threat" to
( ) offence to open-source or reveal the coding behind more powerful

AI models. The Futurism.com website
( ) provides technical briefings and guidance on AI. The authors spoke

extensively to experts at AI companies
( ) and urgent need" for the U.S. government to intervene "quickly and
decisively". It continued: "The rise
( 1 ) A report commissioned by the U.S. State Department has warned

of the existential threat
( ) chance that humans will be driven to extinction, among other

'extremely bad outcomes.'"
( ) by rapidly expanding AI capabilities from weaponisation and loss of

control". The report added that there was a "clear
( ) weapons." The report calls for a new federal agency to regulate

companies developing AI tools and to limit the growth of AI.
( ) computing power an AI model could have. They also recommended

making it a criminal
( ) humanity. The authors identified a "growing risk to national

security posed
( ) like OpenAI, Google DeepMind and Meta. The authors

recommended setting an upper limit on how much
( ) of advanced AI has the potential to destabilise global security in

ways reminiscent of the introduction of nuclear
( ) The 247-page report was commissioned by the State Department in

November 2022. It was written by a company that

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER
1. threat warned the existential from of AI . It
2. a to national growing risk identified security . They
3. destabilise the has global AI to security . potential
4. of the weapons . of introduction Reminiscent nuclear
5. new companies . agency A to regulate federal
6. briefings . company Written provides a technical that by
7. limit . recommended an authors upper setting The
8. They recommended it making offence . also a criminal
9. AI models . coding more Reveal the powerful behind
10. chance to A extinction . that are humans driven

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)
A report commissioned of / by the U.S. State Department has warned of the
existential treat / threat from artificial intelligence. The report posited a
worst-case-scenario "extinction-level threat" to humanity / humanly. The
authors identified a "growing risk to national security opposed / posed by
rapidly expanding AI capabilities from weaponisation and loss of control".
The report added that there was a "clear and urgent need / needy" for the
U.S. government to / for intervene "quickly and decisively". It continued:
"The rise of advanced AI has the potent / potential to destabilise global
security in ways / way reminiscent of the introduction of nuclear weapons."
The report calls for a new federal / feral agency to regulate companies
developing AI tools and to limit the grown / growth of AI.
The 247-page report was commissioned of / by the State Department in
November 2022. It was written by a company that / what provides technical
baffling / briefings and guidance on AI. The authors spoke extensively to
experts at AI companies like OpenAI, Google DeepMind and Meta. The
authors recommended set / setting an upper limit on how much / many
computing power an AI model could be / have. They also recommended
making it a criminal offence to open-source or revel / reveal the coding
behind / ahead more powerful AI models. The Futurism.com website stated:
"Over half of the AI researchers surveyed say there's a five per cent chance
that humans will be cycled / driven to extinction, among other 'extremely
bad incomes / outcomes.'"
Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and
why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)
_ r_p_rt c_mm_ss__n_d by th_ _.S. St_t_ D_p_rtm_nt

h_s w_rn_d _f th_ _x_st_nt__l thr__t fr_m _rt_f_c__l
_nt_ll_g_nc_. Th_ r_p_rt p_s_t_d _ w_rst-c_s_-sc_n_r__
"_xt_nct__n-l_v_l thr__t" t_ h_m_n_ty. Th_ __th_rs
_d_nt_f__d _ "gr_w_ng r_sk t_ n_t__n_l s_c_r_ty p_s_d
by r_p_dly _xp_nd_ng __ c_p_b_l_t__s fr_m
w__p_n_s_t__n _nd l_ss _f c_ntr_l". Th_ r_p_rt _dd_d
th_t th_r_ w_s _ "cl__r _nd _rg_nt n__d" f_r th_ _.S.
g_v_rnm_nt t_ _nt_rv_n_ "q__ckly _nd d_c_s_v_ly". _t
c_nt_n__d: "Th_ r_s_ _f _dv_nc_d __ h_s th_
p_t_nt__l t_ d_st_b_l_s_ gl_b_l s_c_r_ty _n w_ys
r_m_n_sc_nt _f th_ _ntr_d_ct__n _f n_cl__r w__p_ns."
Th_ r_p_rt c_lls f_r _ n_w f_d_r_l _g_ncy t_ r_g_l_t_
c_mp_n__s d_v_l_p_ng __ t__ls _nd t_ l_m_t th_
gr_wth _f __.
Th_ 247-p_g_ r_p_rt w_s c_mm_ss__n_d by th_ St_t_

D_p_rtm_nt _n N_v_mb_r 2022. _t w_s wr_tt_n by _
c_mp_ny th_t pr_v_d_s t_chn_c_l br__f_ngs _nd
g__d_nc_ _n __. Th_ __th_rs sp_k_ _xt_ns_v_ly t_
_xp_rts _t __ c_mp_n__s l_k_ _p_n__, G__gl_
D__pM_nd _nd M_t_. Th_ __th_rs r_c_mm_nd_d
s_tt_ng _n _pp_r l_m_t _n h_w m_ch c_mp_t_ng p_w_r
_n __ m_d_l c__ld h_v_. Th_y _ls_ r_c_mm_nd_d
m_k_ng _t _ cr_m_n_l _ff_nc_ t_ _p_n-s__rc_ _r
r_v__l th_ c_d_ng b_h_nd m_r_ p_w_rf_l __ m_d_ls.
Th_ F_t_r_sm.c_m w_bs_t_ st_t_d: "_v_r h_lf _f th_ __
r_s__rch_rs s_rv_y_d s_y th_r_'s _ f_v_ p_rc_nt ch_nc_
th_t h_m_ns w_ll b_ dr_v_n t_ _xt_nct__n, _m_ng
_th_r '_xtr_m_ly b_d __tc_m_s.'"

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS
a report commissioned by the us state department has warned of the
existential threat from artificial intelligence the report posited a
worstcasescenario extinctionlevel threat to humanity the authors identified a
growing risk to national security posed by rapidly expanding ai capabilities
from weaponisation and loss of control the report added that there was a
clear and urgent need for the us government to intervene quickly and
decisively it continued the rise of advanced ai has the potential to destabilise
global security in ways reminiscent of the introduction of nuclear weapons
the report calls for a new federal agency to regulate companies developing ai
tools and to limit the growth of ai
the 247page report was commissioned by the state department in november
2022 it was written by a company that provides technical briefings and
guidance on ai the authors spoke extensively to experts at ai companies like
openai google deepmind and meta the authors recommended setting an
upper limit on how much computing power an ai model could have they also
recommended making it a criminal offence to opensource or reveal the
coding behind more powerful ai models the futurismcom website stated over
half of the ai researchers surveyed say theres a five per cent chance that
humans will be driven to extinction among other extremely bad outcomes

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE
AreportcommissionedbytheU.S.StateDepartmenthaswarnedofthee
xistentialthreatfromartificialintelligence.Thereportpositedaworst-c
ase-scenario"extinction-levelthreat"tohumanity.Theauthorsidentif
ieda"growingrisktonationalsecurityposedbyrapidlyexpandingAIcap
abilitiesfromweaponisationandlossofcontrol".Thereportaddedthatth
erewasa"clearandurgentneed"fortheU.S.governmenttointervene"q
uicklyanddecisively".Itcontinued:"TheriseofadvancedAIhasthepote
ntialtodestabiliseglobalsecurityinwaysreminiscentoftheintroduction
ofnuclearweapons."Thereportcallsforanewfederalagencytoregulate
companiesdevelopingAItoolsandtolimitthegrowthofAI.The247-pag
ereportwascommissionedbytheStateDepartmentinNovember2022.
Itwaswrittenbyacompanythatprovidestechnicalbriefingsandguidan
ceonAI.TheauthorsspokeextensivelytoexpertsatAIcompanieslikeOp
enAI,GoogleDeepMindandMeta.Theauthorsrecommendedsettingan
upperlimitonhowmuchcomputingpoweranAImodelcouldhave.Theya
lsorecommendedmakingitacriminaloffencetoopen-sourceorrevzeal
thecodingbehindmorepowerfulAImodels.TheFuturism.comwebsites
tated:"OverhalfoftheAIresearcherssurveyedsaythere'safivepercent
chancethathumanswillbedriventoextinction,amongother'extremely
badoutcomes.'"

FREE WRITING
Write about extinction for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.
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ACADEMIC WRITING
AI is the greatest threat to humanity. Discuss.
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HOMEWORK
1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the

text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to
build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news
story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. AI EXTINCTION: Make a poster about extinction from A.I. Show your

work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. AI: Write a magazine article about restricting the power of AI. Include
imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any
new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next

stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the
next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on AI extinction. Ask him/her three

questions about it. Give him/her your opinions on the pros and cons of AI.
Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will
answer your questions.

ANSWERS
VOCABULARY (p.4)
1. c 2. e 3. d 4. a 5. f 6. g 7. b
8. k 9. h 10. i 11. n 12. m 13. j 14. l
TRUE / FALSE (p.5)

1 F 2 F 3 T 4 T 5 F 6 F 7 T 8 F
SYNONYM MATCH (p.5)
1. f 2. i 3. b 4. g 5. d
6. a 7. e 8. j 9. h 10. c
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.9) WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER (p.19)
1. The U.S. State Department 1. It warned of the existential threat from AI.
2. A worst-case scenario 2. They identified a growing risk to national
security.
3. National security 3. AI has the potential to destabilise global security.
4. The introduction of nuclear 4. Reminiscent of the introduction of nuclear
weapons weapons.
5. The growth of AI 5. A new federal agency to regulate companies.
6. November 2022 6. Written by a company that provides technical
briefings.
7. Technical briefings and guidance 7. The authors recommended setting an upper limit.
on AI
8. An upper limit 8. They also recommended making it a criminal
offence.
9. The coding behind more powerful 9. Reveal the coding behind more powerful AI
AI models models.
10. Extremely bad outcomes 10. A chance that humans are driven to extinction.
MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.10)

1. c 2. a 3. b 4. d 5. c 6. b 7. d 8. b 9. b 10. a
ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)


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Breaking News English.

“1,000 IDEAS & ACTIVITIES Thousands more free lessons

Level 6 - 1st April 2024

Please try Levels 4 and 5 (they are easier).

A report commissioned by the U.S. State Department has warned of

the existential threat from artificial intelligence. The report posited a

worst-case-scenario "extinction-level threat" to humanity. The authors

identified a "growing risk to national security posed by rapidly expanding

AI capabilities from weaponisation and loss of control". The report added

intervene "quickly and decisively". It continued: "The rise of advanced AI

has the potential to destabilise global security in ways reminiscent of the

introduction of nuclear weapons." The report calls for a new federal

agency to regulate companies developing AI tools and to limit the growth

The 247-page report was commissioned by the State Department in

November 2022. It was written by a company that provides technical

briefings and guidance on AI. The authors spoke extensively to experts at

AI companies like OpenAI, Google DeepMind and Meta. The authors

recommended setting an upper limit on how much computing power an

AI model could have. They also recommended making it a criminal

offence to open-source or reveal the coding behind more powerful AI

models. The Futurism.com website stated: "Over half of the AI

be driven to extinction, among other 'extremely bad outcomes.'"

Level 6 AI an 'extinction-level threat' says study by experts – 1st April 2024

report / existential threats / worst-case scenario / risk / national security / AI tools /

• Artificial intelligence • Climate change

Level 6 AI an 'extinction-level threat' says study by experts – 1st April 2024

1. existential a. To come between people or something or

6. reminiscent f. In a way that settles an issue or makes a

8. commissioned h. Short meetings or sessions where

10. extensively j. To make something known or visible that

12. open source l. The state of no longer existing, especially in

Level 6 AI an 'extinction-level threat' says study by experts – 1st April 2024

1. The U.S. Defense Department commissioned a report on AI dangers. T/F

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1. A report commissioned a. reveal the coding

Level 6 AI an 'extinction-level threat' says study by experts – 1st April 2024

A report commissioned by the U.S. State Department has rapidly

(3) _____________________ expanding AI capabilities from loss

destabilise global security in ways (6) _____________________ of the

The 247-page report was (9) _____________________ by the State extensively

recommended setting an (12) _____________________ limit on how briefings

half of the AI researchers (15) _____________________ say there's a

Level 6 AI an 'extinction-level threat' says study by experts – 1st April 2024

1) A report commissioned by the U.S. State Department has warned of ______

Level 6 AI an 'extinction-level threat' says study by experts – 1st April 2024

A report commissioned by the U.S. State Department

(1) ____________________ the existential threat from artificial intelligence.

The report (2) ____________________-case-scenario "extinction-level

threat" to humanity. The authors identified a "growing risk to national

security posed (3) ____________________ AI capabilities from

and urgent need" for the U.S. government to intervene

"(4) ____________________". It continued: "The rise of advanced AI has

(5) ____________________ destabilise global security in ways reminiscent

agency to regulate companies developing AI tools and to

(6) ____________________ of AI.

The 247-page report was commissioned by the State Department in

November 2022. It (7) ____________________ a company that provides

technical (8) ____________________ on AI. The authors spoke extensively

to experts at AI companies like OpenAI, Google DeepMind and Meta. The

_______ _ _______