Vitalik Buterin, the creator of Ethereum, has expressed his concerns about the potential existential threat posed by artificial intelligence (AI). He cited a survey by AI Impacts, which found that between 5% and 10% of respondents believed that AI could lead to human extinction. Buterin suggested that an open-source movement focused on security would be better suited to lead AI development than closed, proprietary corporations and venture capital funds. He also emphasized the importance of human intention in guiding the direction and outcome of AI development, and warned against giving "extreme and opaque power" to a small group of people. Additionally, Buterin believes that a world that prioritizes defense would be safer and less conflict-prone, and would allow for healthier and more freedom-respecting forms of governance to thrive. He urged society to regularly question the direction of their progress, as the 21st century could be a pivotal century for humanity with the potential to determine its fate for millennia.