The risk that artificial intelligence leads directly to the extinction of the human species is very high. Most scientists working on improving AI have pointed to a risk ranging from 10-50% that their work eventually will lead to our extinction. AI’s intelligence is increasing exponentially as we speak. Wikipedia.
Far more money is being spent on AI now than was spent on either the Manhattan Project or on the Space Race. A significant and rising portion of US GDP is being spent developing AI. Reference.
So what can we do? The best solution I have been able to come up with is that we should halt and roll back all computer development to give us more time to consider whether we should develop AI at all and if there is a way to do it safely. We should roll back all computer development to 75 years globally and consider what to do very carefully. Rolling back computer development like this would require a nuclear armed nation like the USA or Russia to enforce this and be willing to use those weapons if someone violated the ban on development. It would take an international force of inspectors to make sure no country anywhere was trying to develop it in secret.