RSTAroyptaPhilosophical Transactions APhil. Trans. R. Soc. A1471-29621364-503XThe Royal Societyrsta2023037610.1098/rsta.2023.0376100310091009157159162Review articlesReview articlesFundamental physics, existential risks and human futuresFundamental physics, existential risks and human futuresAdrian Kent1ConceptualizationData curationFormal analysisInvestigationMethodologyProject administrationResourcesSoftwareWriting – original draftWriting – review and editingA.P.A.Kent@damtp.cam.ac.ukDAMTP, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

One contribution of 8 to a theme issue ‘Science into the next millennium: 25 years on’.

0805202508052025May 8, 202538322962023037631012025January 31, 202511032025March 11, 2025© 2025 The Author(s).2025http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Published by the Royal Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/, which permits unrestricted use, provided the original author and source are credited.

Over the past 25 years, I have been involved in some intriguing developments in the foundations of physics, exploring the quantum reality problem, the relationship between quantum theory and gravity and the interplay between consciousness and physical laws. These investigations make it plausible that we will find physics beyond quantum theory, potentially including both new evolution laws and new types of measurement. There is also a significant chance they could have a potentially transformative impact on information processing and on the development of and our future with AI.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Science into the next millennium: 25 years on’.

quantum foundations; gravity; consciousness; existential risk; human futures