Human-Caused Catastrophe

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  "title": "Human-Caused Catastrophe",
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---
numericId: E671
title: Human-Caused Catastrophe
description: Scenarios where humans use AI to cause mass harm - through state actors or rogue actors.
sidebar:
  label: Overview
  order: 0
lastEdited: "2026-01-03"
subcategory: scenarios-human-catastrophe
---
import {DataInfoBox, FactorSubItemsList, FactorRelationshipDiagram, ImpactList, EntityLink} from '@components/wiki';

<DataInfoBox entityId="E158" />

Human-Caused Catastrophe refers to scenarios where humans deliberately use AI capabilities to cause mass harm. Unlike AI Takeover scenarios, the AI itself may be functioning as intended - the catastrophe arises from human misuse.

## Variants

<FactorSubItemsList factorId="human-catastrophe" />

## Key Root Factors

<FactorRelationshipDiagram nodeId="human-catastrophe" direction="incoming" />

### Factor Impact Scores

<ImpactList nodeId="human-catastrophe" direction="to" />

## Outcomes

Human-Caused Catastrophe scenarios primarily lead to:
- **<EntityLink id="E130">Existential Catastrophe</EntityLink>**: Mass casualty events, civilizational collapse
- May trigger **Long-term <EntityLink id="E189">Lock-in</EntityLink>**: Crisis enables authoritarian consolidation