New Data Shows Hacker News Posts Now 37% More Likely to Include the Phrase ‘Existential Risk’

Recent analysis reveals a significant increase in the prevalence of "existential risk" discussions on Hacker News, with posts now 37% more likely to mention the term. The likelihood rose from 20% to 57%, reflecting growing concern or interest in catastrophic threats among the tech community. This trend may indicate heightened awareness of AI, climate change, or other global risks. Further research is needed to determine the drivers behind this shift. The data underscores the platform's evolving focus on high-stakes, future-oriented debates.

Hacker News Posts Now 37% More Likely to Include the Phrase ‘Existential Risk’ Likelyhood of mentioning 'Existential Risk' Month 0.0 20.0 40.0 60.0 Aug 2024 Oct 2024 Dec 2024 Feb 2025 Apr 2025 Jun 2025
Source: factitio.us