The idea of artificial intelligence overthrowing humankind has been talked about for many decades, and scientists have just delivered their verdict on whether we'd be able to control a high-level computer super-intelligence.
"In effect, this makes the containment algorithm unusable," says computer scientist Iyad Rahwan, from the Max-Planck Institute for Human Development in Germany.
The new study rejects this idea too, suggesting that it would limit the reach of the artificial intelligence – the argument goes that if we're not going to use it to solve problems beyond the scope of humans, then why create it at all.
"A super-intelligent machine that controls the world sounds like science fiction," says computer scientist Manuel Cebrian, from the Max-Planck Institute for Human Development.