In the premiere episode of her new BBC2 series "The Future With Hannah Fry," broadcaster and mathematician Hannah Fry explores a concept she refers to as "The Gorilla Problem." The term describes an evolutionary event approximately 10 million years ago when ancestral gorillas contributed genetic material that ultimately led to the emergence of modern humans.

Fry highlights the irony that while this genetic development benefited humans, gorilla populations have since faced significant decline and are now considered endangered, with human activity largely to blame. The discussion then shifts toward contemporary scientific concerns about humanity’s creation of artificial intelligence (AI).

Some experts question whether, by developing AI, humans might encounter challenges reminiscent of those faced by gorillas in evolutionary history, potentially experiencing unforeseen consequences of their own innovations. Fry notes that this view is held by a subset of scientists rather than the primates themselves.

The episode sets the stage for a broader examination of the future implications of emerging technologies, framed through the lens of evolutionary history and ethical considerations surrounding human advancement.