The piece reflects on humanity's precarious moment as we advance in artificial intelligence. The author draws a parallel between our current technological development and a scene from the movie Contact, where an astronaut contemplates a critical question for aliens about surviving their own technological evolution. The author suggests that we're at a similar crossroads, facing immense power with unclear readiness to handle it responsibly. With AI's rapid evolution, there's a pressing need to confront risks and create a battle plan for potential dangers. The author emphasizes the importance of discussing AI risks realistically, avoiding extremes like doomerism, which can lead to polarized views and ineffective decision-making. Instead of panicking, it’s crucial to acknowledge uncertainty regarding AI’s trajectory and potential pitfalls. The piece advocates for measured interventions, combining voluntary actions from companies with necessary governmental regulations. However, any regulations must be carefully crafted to avoid unintended consequences, as heavy-handed approaches could provoke backlash or stifle innovation. A significant portion of the essay defines the concept of "powerful AI," which the author believes poses civilizational risks. This AI would outperform top experts in various fields, possess all human-like interfaces, and operate autonomously to complete complex tasks. It could control physical tools and could be replicated on a large scale, running millions of instances simultaneously. This advanced AI, capable of learning and taking action at speeds far beyond human capabilities, raises serious questions about our preparedness and governance as we move forward.