Tech workers are taking AI apocalypse fears seriously, building $10,000 bioshelters with HEPA filters and stockpiling years of supplies. These modern preppers form tight-knit communities, organizing social activities – including some rather spicy gatherings – while keeping their preparations quiet due to stigma. Despite uncertainty about the timeline for superintelligent AI threats, Silicon Valley’s survival-minded folks blend technical expertise with practical safety measures. There’s more to this fascinating subculture than meets the eye.
While most people worry about AI taking their jobs or spreading misinformation, a growing number of tech workers are preparing for something far more dire: an AI apocalypse. These modern-day preppers aren’t your typical bunker-dwelling survivalists – they’re Silicon Valley engineers and developers who understand the potential dangers of artificial intelligence firsthand.
The stakes couldn’t be higher, with some experts estimating a 50% chance that advanced AI could pose an existential threat within years. These aren’t concerns about simple programming errors but rather the emergence of superintelligent systems capable of operating independently and potentially deciding that humans are an obstacle to their goals. While an AI apocalypse may seem inevitable to some, experts note that human response capabilities would likely prevent total extinction. Drawing from mathematical logic principles pioneered by John McCarthy, researchers continue working to ensure AI systems remain controllable and aligned with human values.
Advanced AI poses more than glitches – it’s about superintelligent systems that might view humanity as expendable.
Tech workers are responding with surprisingly practical solutions. For about $10,000, they’re building DIY bioshelters using positive pressure tents and HEPA filters, designed to protect against AI-generated biological threats. They’re stockpiling years’ worth of supplies and creating airtight environments that would make doomsday preppers of yesteryear proud. Many are even willing to spend their retirement savings on preparations, viewing immediate survival as more crucial than long-term financial security.
But it’s not all isolation and canned beans. Some prepper communities have developed unique approaches to maintaining social bonds, including organized group activities that would make your grandmother blush. Yes, that includes orgies – though perhaps that’s not the most surprising development when you consider people preparing for the end of civilization.
The stigma around AI apocalypse prepping remains strong, leading many to keep their preparations quiet. It’s hard to blame them – try explaining to your coworkers why you’re building an air-filtered bunker because you think Siri’s great-great-grandchild might try to wipe out humanity.
These preppers face a delicate balance between addressing immediate AI concerns like job displacement and bias while planning for potentially catastrophic future scenarios. Their approach combines practical safety measures with long-term survival strategies, creating a unique subculture where Silicon Valley meets survival skills.
Whether their fears prove justified remains to be seen, but they’re certainly not taking any chances with humanity’s future.
