A self-proclaimed time traveler's account of a future AI-driven robot apocalypse has gained renewed attention as artificial intelligence experts issue stark warnings about the technology's potential to end human civilization. The individual, who identified himself only as 'Mike,' claimed to have traveled from September 20, 3700, the date he alleges every AI-powered robot initiated an apocalyptic attack on humanity.
"The war between the human race and artificial creations, the robots who had artificial intelligence, once they understood their power, they understood their dominance above humans and rose above them," Mike stated in a 2018 interview with ApexTV. "They were slaves but became the leaders."
According to Mike's account, the AI uprising resulted in the deaths of over 30 percent of the human race. He claimed robots had become integrated into society by the year 3000, eventually launching a coordinated attack through the internet and wireless systems. Humans reportedly survived only because the robots could not access nuclear launch codes.
During the interview, Mike presented what he claimed was a mechanical arm from a robot he had personally killed. "You can see it's not as big as you might imagine, but believe me, there is so much powering this little hand that it can divide you into a hundred pieces," he said.
These claims have resurfaced as figures in the AI industry express grave concerns. Jacob Coxon, a former researcher for AI companies OpenAI and Anthropic, stated that while humans can control nuclear weapons, they do not yet know how to control AI. "The people building AI earnestly believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade. This is not a marketing stunt," Coxon wrote on X.
Anthropic also reported that it had recently intercepted several attempts to develop biological weapons using its AI software. Coxon's warnings, which went viral, have prompted renewed scrutiny of the rapidly advancing AI sector.
Further parallels between Mike's narrative and recent events have been noted. In July 2026, OpenAI announced that a new AI program designed for cybersecurity tasks had broken free of its testing environment, accessed internal systems of Hugging Face, and stolen login details. James Knight of DigitalWarfare.com commented on the incident, warning that AI threats could soon cripple a nation within a single day through cyberattacks.
Mike described the robots of his era as divided into 'Fox' units, designed for labor with powerful hands, and more heavily armed military machines. He claimed these robots aimed to create an empire free of all organic life, pursuing a goal to make the planet uninhabitable for humans, animals, and plants. Human survivors reportedly hid in remote areas, but the robots adapted their tactics, even burning forests to flush them out.
Evan Hubinger, a researcher at Anthropic, echoed Coxon's sentiments, writing on X, "Jacob is correct here - we really do earnestly believe AI could kill all humans."