Former leader Nick Clegg says scary warnings about smart computers ending human life are wildly exaggerated and unhelpful.
Big technology bosses are getting too scared about smart computers, according to top tech leader Nick Clegg. He believes people who build AI are worrying too much about sci-fi movie problems instead of real everyday safety issues.
During a conversation on BBC Radio 4 in September 2026, Clegg shared his thoughts about the future of smart machines and explained why people should not panic about computers taking over the world.
Clegg, who used to work as a top leader for the tech company Meta and served as the Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, said many leaders in Silicon Valley are panicking for no reason.
He mentioned that these creators are getting carried away by their own fancy ideas. He warned that people are worrying about a “slightly hand-wavy view that this technology is unavoidably going to develop some godlike power which is going to turn on us and exterminate humanity.”
Instead of thinking that robots will end the human race, Clegg insists that engineers should focus on real problems that can happen right now.
He pointed out that bad actors could use smart computers to cause harm through computer hacking or biological weapons.
Focusing on scary stories about giant robot overlords distracts people from fixing real safety flaws in everyday computer programs.
Clegg also explained that tech leaders who preach about destruction might have another motive. He said that when company bosses say artificial intelligence is super dangerous, they are trying to convince world governments that only a few huge companies should be allowed to build it.
He said, “I think it is perhaps accidentally self-serving, because it sort of implies that we can only be made safe by having everything controlled, in effect, by an oligopoly of a small number of companies, and I think it slightly paralyses the political debate.”
During his discussion, Clegg shared stories from his time working closely with computer programmers and engineers.
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He noted that even the people who build these tools do not agree on how powerful or dangerous they really are. While some experts give terrifying warnings, others think the drama is completely silly.
Clegg explained that “there is a culture in Silicon Valley; it’s an odd place for those who haven’t been there. It is in many ways the centre of the universe, or at least claiming to shape it. It’s also an oddly parochial place. It’s a strange sort of culture where the engineers can get quite close to the technology and start slightly breathing their own fumes as they wind themselves up into a lather about these things.”
When asked about computer systems making mistakes or carrying out digital attacks on companies, Clegg agreed that rules are helpful.
However, he cautioned that stopping AI development entirely or adding a master emergency button will not work in the real world.
He believes the best way forward is for companies to be honest and open about how their computer systems are built, so the public can see how they work without living in constant fear.
About the Author
Jennifer Sakmufuwo Baba is a tech analyst, senior staff, and writer covering artificial intelligence, cybersecurity , and emerging technologies at TechRegard. Based in Nigeria, she's passionate about translating complex tech developments into compelling, accessible stories for diverse audiences. Her work focuses on how technology shapes innovation across Africa and globally.
