Sir Ridley Scott

Sir Ridley Scott quipped that he keeps a supply of "candles, matches and guns" at home just in case the world is plunged into a crisis by AI technology.

The 'Blade Runner' director is convinced society is heading for a fate even worse than the world shown in his 1982 sci-fi movie and he wants to make sure he is prepared for an emergency at all times.

In an interview with his 'Gladiator II' star Paul Mescal for the Guardian newspaper, Ridley explained: "The world in 'Blade Runner' is run by two people and we’re heading in that direction, if not worse.

"And with AI, the first thing you ask of it is to design an AI smarter than itself. Then you get one smarter than you are. At what moment do you overload it with so much information it gets pressure?

"Pressure is emotion. And when that thing’s emotional, we are in trouble. If the AI doesn’t like us, we’re in deep s***. They could switch us off for fun."

He added: "You’d be medieval in six weeks. You switch that off and we are so helpless it’s crazy. Have you got candles in your house? Have you got matches?

"I have candles, matches and guns because I live in LA. Do I ever want to use a gun? God forbid no, but you ought to be always slightly conscious of where the world is going right now."