The so-called “AI Godfather” has raised alarms about how quickly society is embracing this technology, suggesting it could lead to widespread unemployment.
Geoffrey Hinton, who received a Nobel Prize in physics last year for his work that has influenced today’s advanced AI systems, noted that business leaders are promoting AI as a potential fix for issues like hunger, poverty, and health problems.
However, he expressed concern: “What really happens is that the rich use AI to replace workers,” he shared with the Financial Times.
“This will lead to enormous unemployment along with a substantial increase in profits. It’s going to make a handful of people very wealthy, while the majority will become poorer. That’s more about the capitalist system than it is about the AI itself,” he added.
Acknowledging his self-identified socialist leanings, Hinton has been vocal against the rapid development of AI ever since he departed from Google’s Brain team in 2023.
Having spent 20 years at the University of Toronto, Hinton mentioned that many in the scientific community agree AI could become more capable than humans within the next five to twenty years.
He has previously issued strong warnings regarding the immense potential of AI and has advocated for a halt in its advancement.
Interestingly, he remarked that AI could resemble a maternal figure because, in a sense, “mothers are very concerned about their babies since they are responsible for their lives.”
Despite his criticisms, the London-born academic confessed to utilizing AI in various aspects of his life, from scientific inquiries to dealing with home appliances.
“I’m 77, and it’s coming soon anyway,” he reflected.
Meanwhile, figures in the tech world, like Elon Musk and Sam Altman, are actively engaged in the competitive AI landscape.
When questioned about who he trusts more between the two, Hinton cleverly referenced a 2016 remark from Lindsey Graham regarding political choices involving Donald Trump and Ted Cruz.
He also expressed skepticism towards government oversight, believing the US has already adopted a lenient regulatory approach towards the industry.
When posed with a scenario where humans coexist with AI robots and gradually become cyborgs, Hinton simply asked, “What’s wrong with that?”
When confronted about whether this could lead to extinction, he acknowledged, “Yes.” He concluded by stating, “We might either excel or face significant challenges as history unfolds. We can speculate, but the future won’t resemble the present.”
