English Prime Minister Boris Johnson gives an unconventional speech at the UN General Assembly on that referenced “terrifying limbless chickens” and “pink-eyed terminators” but only mentioned Brexit once in his 20 minute speech.
During a late-night, short address that drew laughs and smiled looks from delegates, PM Johnson struck a light tone on a serious subject as he warned of technology’s capacity to control citizens.
He made no mention of Britain’s highest court decision earlier in the day that his ruling to suspend parliament amid a Brexit impasse was unlawful.
The shock ruling plunged his plans to exit the European Union by October 31 into crisis and sparked calls by opposition MPs that he resign immediately.
At the UN,Prime Minster Johnson tells the possibility of a future where devices in every household “monitor your nightmares, monitor your fridge,” and where smart cities are “as antiseptic as a Zurich pharmacy”.
“‘Alexa’ will pretend to take orders but this Alexa will be watching you, clapping her tongue and stamping her foot,” Johnson, suggesting “there may be nowhere to hide”.
“As new technologies seem to race towards us from the far horizon we strain our eyes as they come, to make out whether they are for good or bad, friends or foes.
“AI, what will it mean?” he asked of artificial intelligence.
“Helpful robots washing and caring for an ageing population or pink-eyed terminators sent back from the future to cull the human race?” Prime minister Johnson said.
