Doomsday clock moves to 85 seconds before midnight, closest setting since its creation. What does it mean?

Announcing the decision, the Bulletin said familiar dangers such as nuclear escalation and environmental damage had been compounded by artificial intelligence. (Image: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists)

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists on Tuesday moved its Doomsday Clock to 85 seconds before midnight, the closest it has ever been set, citing growing risks from nuclear weapons, climate change and the misuse of artificial intelligence.

The Doomsday Clock is a symbolic measure intended to reflect how near humanity is to a global catastrophe caused by human actions. It was established in 1947, following the Second World War, as nuclear arms competition intensified between global powers.

Announcing the decision, the Bulletin said familiar dangers such as nuclear escalation and environmental damage had been compounded by emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, which scientists warned was being deployed without adequate safeguards.

“Every second counts, and we are running out of time. It is a hard truth, but this is our reality,” said Alexandra Bell, president and chief executive of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, according to Time.com.

Bell said the clock’s movement reflected a broader failure by political leaders to address mounting global threats. “No matter the government, a shift towards neo-imperialism and an Orwellian approach to governance will only serve to push the clock toward midnight,” she said.

Scientists also highlighted the increasing use of AI to spread false or misleading information, including in political and military contexts. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa said technological platforms were accelerating the spread of unverified content worldwide.

“We are living through an information Armageddon brought about by social media and generative AI,” Ressa said, adding that such technologies were “not anchored in facts”.

Nuclear risk featured prominently in the assessment. The Bulletin cited Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, tensions in the Middle East, rising pressure in Asia including on the Korean Peninsula and Taiwan, and strained relations between nuclear-armed states more broadly.

Concern was also raised over the future of nuclear arms control. The New START Treaty, the last remaining agreement limiting deployed strategic nuclear weapons held by the United States and Russia, is set to expire in early February. Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed extending compliance with the treaty’s limits, but the United States has not formally responded.

Jon B. Wolfsthal, a member of the Bulletin’s Science and Security Board, said re-engagement on arms control could reduce immediate risks. “This is a piece of low-hanging fruit,” he said.

Despite the warning, Bell said the threats were created by human decisions and could still be addressed through cooperation and sustained public pressure.