The Cosmological Premise of AI Civilization Safety

The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) has not only brought technological innovation but also unprecedented civilization-level risks. This paper introduces the concept of “Cosmological Safety”, arguing that the root of AI risk is not merely a technical problem but a deep-seated disorder in human civilization, encompassing value systems, institutional structures, and worldviews. From an interdisciplinary perspective that integrates philosophy, physics, complex systems theory, and AI risk analysis, the study constructs an analytical framework centered on the Lao-Yang Genesis Cosmology, embedding cosmic formation, the evolution of life, civilization development, and the emergence of intelligence into a continuous evolutionary chain. Through systematic analysis, the paper reveals cognitive biases inherent in contemporary AI risk paradigms, including techno-centrism, growth-oriented competition, and functionalist ethics, and proposes civilization-level governance strategies based on cosmological understanding. It further demonstrates the relevance of Laozi’s philosophy within the context of modern systems theory, introducing three foundational principles—Ontological Humility, Negative Feedback First, and Natural Boundaries—to guide AI alignment and civilization safety. On this basis, the study constructs a multi-level alignment framework, decentralized intelligence networks, and civilization-scale risk mitigation mechanisms. Four categories of potential civilization failure are analyzed: technological hegemony collapse, digital totalitarian evolution, value-hollowing civilizations, and human-machine co-extinction. Finally, the paper proposes the evolutionary trajectory of future intelligent civilization: from tool-oriented AI to Adaptive Wisdom (AW) embedded within natural cycles, with humans transitioning from designers to stewards of civilization. This work culminates in a declaration for rebuilding civilization under the lens of cosmic-scale rationality, providing a systematic theoretical and practical reference for AI governance, civilization safety, and long-term sustainable development.