Why Warren Buffett Thinks AI Is Like Nuclear Weapons
TLDR
Warren Buffett compared AI development to nuclear weapons during a CNBC special, saying “the genie is out of the bottle”
Buffett noted that even AI experts admit they don’t know where the technology is headed, making it impossible to reverse like nuclear weapons
He referenced Einstein’s atomic bomb quote and warned that nuclear weapons spread from one country to eight or nine nations, including unstable ones
Buffett said he would spend his entire fortune to reduce nuclear threats and has long viewed nuclear, cyber, and biological attacks as major dangers
The former Berkshire Hathaway CEO stepped down on January 1, 2026, with Greg Abel taking over as new CEO
Warren Buffett issued a stark warning about artificial intelligence during a two-hour CNBC special that aired Tuesday night. The former Berkshire Hathaway CEO compared the rapid development of AI to the early days of nuclear weapons.
Buffett pointed out that even the smartest people working on AI technology admit they don’t know where it’s going. He said this uncertainty makes AI different from an explorer like Columbus who could turn around and go back.
“The genie is out of the bottle,” Buffett stated during the interview. He explained that once AI is released, it cannot be contained or reversed.
The legendary investor drew parallels to Albert Einstein’s famous quote about the atomic bomb. Einstein said the bomb “changes everything in the world except how people think.” Buffett used this comparison to highlight how humanity’s approach to dangerous technology hasn’t evolved.
Nuclear Weapons Spread Beyond Initial Control
Buffett explained that nuclear weapons were initially expected to remain in the hands of one country. However, that technology has now spread to eight or nine nations.
He expressed concern that some countries possessing nuclear weapons are very unstable. Buffett said these nations “scare the hell out of you if they’ve got a pop gun, let alone a nuclear weapon.”
The investor acknowledged that developing nuclear weapons was considered necessary for the United States during World War II. Despite this, he said he would spend his entire fortune to reduce the nuclear threat if he could.
Buffett revealed that concerns about nuclear weapons have shaped his thinking on charity and global safety for many years. The topic was his first thought when he began considering philanthropic spending.
He said if he could pick three countries to permanently leave the nuclear game, he would do it in five seconds. Buffett wouldn’t wait or hesitate to make that decision.
Berkshire’s Long-Standing Security Concerns
In Berkshire Hathaway’s 2015 annual report, Buffett wrote about major threats facing the company and the country. He identified nuclear, cyber, and biological attacks as the biggest dangers.
At Berkshire’s annual shareholder meeting in May 2024, Buffett discussed AI more directly. He said the technology has “enormous potential for good and enormous potential for harm.”
Buffett announced in November 2025 that he would no longer speak at Berkshire Hathaway’s annual meeting. Greg Abel took over as CEO on January 1, 2026 and is expected to write the firm’s annual letter to shareholders this spring.
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Filed under: News - @ January 15, 2026 10:29 am