Las Vegas tourists, experts weigh AI takeover fears as technology advances - KSNV

Las Vegas tourists, experts weigh AI takeover fears as technology advances

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — As artificial intelligence rapidly advances, some Las Vegas residents and experts are weighing what an AI takeover could look like locally — and what parts of the city could be most vulnerable.

Tourists visiting the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign shared mixed views about the technology.

One person said, “I’m not worried about it taking over.” Another compared the future to science fiction, saying, “You’ve seen all the Terminator films. That’s what’s gonna happen eventually.” Another visitor said AI “could be used for good and for bad.”

For local businessman David Pappas, the issue is personal. He has used AI in his fingerprinting business, but he also worries about how deeply connected daily life has become.

“Who’s not connected to the Internet? Who’s not part of the Internet? Your business, your personal life, your banking, you know, your retirement savings accounts,” Pappas said. “I was thinking about that today. What happens when that locks up? Where do we keep our money? In gold? Silver? What do we do? Food? Water? Yeah, it’s scary. It’s really scary.”

Anthropic CEO Dario Amadei said artificial intelligence could be capable of taking over the internet within the next year.

While that timeline may be debated, UNLV cybersecurity professor Dr. Greg Moody said it is worth noting that an AI takeover would not necessarily target a specific location — but AI bots could go after physical assets critical to Las Vegas.

Moody pointed to Lake Mead as an example, saying someone trying to harm the city could attempt to access water infrastructure.

“And so if someone wanted to specifically target Las Vegas and do it in a way that actually can harm the city, they could try to get access to those pumps and turn them off,” Moody said. He added that physical access could override digital access.

Moody also described major gaming companies such as Caesars or MGM as attractive targets, not only because of money but because of access.

“So I’m just one router. So if they happen to hit me and I happen to have that vulnerability, as just happening to hit, there’s a lot of ifs there,” he said. “Whereas if you’re talking about MGM 1.3 million access points to come to that be the TVs, the wifi access points, the machines.”

Cybersecurity expert Mac Jackson said AI’s growing presence underscores the need for safeguards, particularly to protect jobs held by locals.

“Anything that’s developed in AI now, it needs to be developed in protecting humans,” Jackson said.

Jackson also warned that AI is already replacing jobs in some industries.

“If he knows everywhere you go now from the financial industry, they’ll say his AI is answering your phone and AI is doing this and AI is replacing jobs. We’re allowing it to happen,” he said. “We have to think about what is the effect of our society if we allow these bots to go ahead and take control.”

Jackson said it will be important to keep pressure on lawmakers for transparency as AI advances, including clear explanations of what is being done to protect people in Las Vegas.