Agential risks and information hazards: An unavoidable but dangerous topic?

This paper proposes an original theoretical framework for understanding anthropogenic existential risks associated with advanced dual-use technologies. It outlines a typology of “agential risks,” of which I argue there are four primary types: apocalyptic terrorists, misguided moral actors, ecoterrorists, and idiosyncratic actors. I then explore the issue of agential risks and information hazards, arguing that although there are nontrivial dangers associated with agential risk scholarship, the benefits currently outweigh the risks. The paper's primary aim is to establish a conceptual foundation for understanding the range of individuals who might attempt to exploit current and future technologies to bring about an existential catastrophe.