AI poised to outperform human intelligence, says tech pioneer
What's the story
Geoffrey Hinton, a leading figure in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), has asserted that AI is on the brink of surpassing human intelligence.
In a recent interview with BBC's Newsnight program, Hinton revealed this belief is not just his own but shared by many top experts in the field.
"Almost everybody I know who is an expert on AI believes that they will exceed human intelligence — it's just a question of when," he stated.
Expert consensus
AI 'godfathers' share belief in its potential superiority
Hinton, along with Yoshua Bengio from Université de Montréal and Meta's Yann LeCun, are collectively known as the "godfathers" of AI.
Hinton described LeCun's perspective on the potential superintelligence of AI as being "no problem."
In 2023, Hinton left his role at Google and has since been vocal about his concerns regarding the implications of advanced AI technology.
Risk assessment
Hinton warns of potential risks posed by AI
Hinton has repeatedly expressed his apprehension about the existential risks associated with AI technology.
During his BBC interview, he emphasized the need for caution in developing and regulating AI, stating, "I think there's a chance they'll take control. And it's a significant chance — it's not like one percent, it's much more."
He also voiced uncertainty over our ability to control an AI that goes rogue and attempts to seize power.
AI dangers
AI's military applications and job displacement concern Hinton
Hinton expressed particular concern about the military use of AI technology, such as its role in selecting airstrike targets.
He criticized global governments for their hesitance to regulate this area, stating, "What I'm most concerned about is when these [AIs] can autonomously make the decision to kill people."
Additionally, he voiced worries about AI replacing mundane jobs leading to wealth disparity, with the wealthy disproportionately benefiting from increased productivity, at the expense of those whose jobs are eliminated.