Washington: Acclaimed filmmaker James Cameron, creator of the iconic Terminator franchise, has issued a stark warning about the dangers of artificial intelligence, suggesting the world could face a “Terminator-style apocalypse” if AI gains access to advanced weapon systems.
Speaking to Rolling Stone, Cameron expressed grave concern about the merging of AI with military hardware, including nuclear arsenals. “I do believe there is still a risk… even up to the level of nuclear weapon systems and counterstrike,” he said. “Perhaps we’ll be smart enough to keep a human in the loop—but we are flawed, and history shows we’ve made dangerous mistakes before.”
Cameron identified what he sees as three converging existential threats: nuclear weapons, super-intelligent AI, and climate change. “They’re all peaking and emerging together,” he warned.
The filmmaker, who recently signed a nuclear disarmament petition, is working on Ghosts of Hiroshima, based on Charles Pellegrino’s novel about the 1945 atomic bombing and its aftermath. Cameron called it potentially “the most difficult movie” of his career, as he seeks to balance historical truth with emotional resonance.
“Every human story contains poetry, beauty, and revelation,” he said. “Finding that here will be the challenge—but I’ve never let that stop me.”
