S-risks: an introduction

Abstract

Suffering risks (s-risks) pose astronomical threats and require urgent intervention. Technological advancements and indifference to animal suffering raise the possibility of vast-scale suffering in the future, similar to factory farming. S-risks are not negligible considering our expanding capabilities on universal scales. They are more probable than imagined, outweigh present-day suffering in expectation, and are currently neglected. For effective reduction, targeting the development of pivotal technologies through precautions and working on societal improvements is suggested. Further research, awareness campaigns, and collaborative efforts with diverse value systems are necessary. This abstract was automatically generated and should be regarded as a preliminary version. – AI-generated abstract.