Artificial intelligence 'could end human race'

British theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking has warned that development of artificial intelligence could mean the end of humanity.

The scientist said such technology could rapidly evolve and overtake mankind, a scenario like that envisaged in the Terminator movies.

"The primitive forms of artificial intelligence we already have, have proved very useful. But I think the development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race," Hawking said in a BBC interview that aired on Tuesday.