From Nuclear War to AI: Why We Keep Predicting the Apocalypse | Ben Landau-Taylor

Is AI really an existential threat, or are we repeating a familiar pattern of predicting the end of civilization? Vance Crowe welcomes back writer, philosopher and podcast host Ben Landau-Taylor to explore the ideas behind his Palladium essay, The Life Cycle of an Apocalypse. Ben traces the history of apocalyptic thinking, from the devastation of World War I and fears of nuclear annihilation, to overpopulation, climate catastrophe and today's predictions of an AI apocalypse. He argues that these recurring fears reflect a deeper cultural anxiety about humanity's relationship with technology. They also discuss the origins of AI “doomerism”, the influence of early AI thinkers on companies like OpenAI and Anthropic, the prospect of super intelligent AI, and whether fears about emerging technology could lead to greater government control and concentrated power. To explore more of Ben’s work please visit: Writing: https://benlandautaylor.com The Students podcast: https://thestudentsmedia.com The Life Cycle of an Apocalypse: https://www.palladiummag.com/2026/04/22/the-lifecycle-of-an-apocalypse/ When not podcasting, Vance is invited to give talks on tangible communication skills. He teaches how to connect with employees, colleagues and family so that you can negotiate, have better relationships and achieve your higher goals. https://articulate.ventures/lbc https://www.legacyinterviews.com/ #ArtificialIntelligence #ExistentialRisk #AIApocalypse #BenLandauTaylor #VanceCrowe