AI and the climate crisis pose existential risks. The law offers a way to reduce them

‘Liability law is hardly an easy or perfect fix, but it’s an important start.’ Photograph: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images

The most basic function of government is to protect people from harm. Two growing phenomena – the climate crisis and AI – pose escalating risks of extraordinary harm.

The climate crisis is already causing floods, wildfires, drought and record heat. AI agents are already escaping super-secure environments to hack into systems they’re supposed to avoid.