Areas Of Expertise
Artificial Intelligence & Existential Risk
I investigate the accelerating trajectory toward artificial general intelligence, exposing both the scientific realities and the societal risks of creating systems that could quickly surpass human intelligence. My work challenges the illusion of control that Silicon Valley promotes, showing how emergent behaviors and unpredictable outcomes could escalate into existential threats.
This isn’t about science fiction, it’s about understanding the very real dangers of a technology that could outgrow our ability to manage it. By unpacking what’s already happening in labs and corporations, I reveal how close we may be to losing control, and why this conversation can no longer be ignored.
AI Ethics & Public Accountability
I examine the moral failures of unregulated AI development and the dangerous power imbalance between Big Tech and the public. By revealing how profit motives and secrecy drive AI forward faster than safety or ethics, I expose the incentives behind the race toward artificial general intelligence.
I push for oversight that puts truth and transparency at the center of the conversation. My perspective emphasizes that accountability isn’t optional, it’s the only path to preventing catastrophic misuse of machine intelligence.
Public Understanding & Suicide Prevention
I translate the most complex and sensitive realities of suicide, its psychological, biological, and social roots, into clear, actionable understanding. My work brings together the latest research, survivor stories, and proven prevention models to make this crisis something we can all confront and change.
Through books, documentaries, and public talks, I help audiences see that suicide is not inevitable, it’s preventable. I challenge silence, expose misinformation, and equip individuals, institutions, and communities with the knowledge to intervene and save lives. My goal is to make truth a tool of prevention, because understanding how suicide happens is the first step to stopping it.
What others say about me...
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"AGI maybe years or even decades (and not just months) away, but James Barrat is right; we are not prepared … The time to act is now."
Dr. Gary Marcus
NYU Professor Emeritus, and author of Taming Silicon Valley
What others say about me...
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“James Barrat was a wonderful campus guest and the perfect keynote speaker to launch our School of Business Center for Innovation and Ethics. He visited classes and engaged students in deep discussions throughout the day. In the evening, he spoke eloquently to the college community and the public about the ethical challenges of AI. Equal parts talk and conversation, the evening was compelling, and struck just the right balance between the technical and the human challenges we face.”
Kevin H. Michels
Director of the School of Business Center for Innovation and Ethics – The College of New Jersey
What others say about me...
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“James Barrat gave an inspiring and compelling presentation on one of the most significant ethical issues of our time. His talk was exceedingly well received by students, faculty, and members of the wider Richmond region.”
Craig Kocher
University Chaplain and Lecturer in Leadership Studies – University of Richmond
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“James Barrat held a deeply knowledgeable Purdue audience in rapt attention during a compelling but also entertaining hour presentation on our campus. It’s safe to assume that he will have at least as powerful an impact on listeners hearing about the risks and possibly existential dangers of AI for the first time.”
Mitchell Daniels
President – Purdue University
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“James Barrat’s broad cultural fluency and acute sense of humor combine for an invitingly personal and accessible take on the subject of artificial intelligence. He presents technologically and philosophically complex topics with popular attraction as well as intellectual appeal.”
John Syme
Senior Writer & Media Relations Coordinator – Davidson College
Question to ask James
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What is the “Intelligence Explosion”and why should the public be paying attention to it right now?
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In your view, why is artificial general intelligence more dangerous than nuclear weapons or climate change?
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What do most technologists still misunderstand, or ignore, about AI risk?
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What are the biggest lies or myths the public is being told about AI?
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Why don’t we understand how large AI systems like ChatGPT really work, and what are the risks of that ignorance?
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If you could sit down with global policymakers today, what would you tell them about the need for AI regulation?
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What role does public awareness play in slowing down or changing the course of AI development?
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What keeps you up at night about the future of AI, and what gives you hope, if anything?
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