AI Pioneer Warns Humanity May Lose Control Over Advanced Artificial Intelligence

Geoffrey Hinton gave a "sort of 10 to 20% chance" that AI systems could one day seize control. (PONTUS LUNDAHL/TT NEWS AGENCY/AFP via Getty Images)

Geoffrey Hinton, often referred to as the "godfather of AI," has expressed concerns about the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, warning that humanity may soon lose control over the technology. In a recent CBS News interview, Hinton estimated a 10 to 20% chance that AI systems could eventually dominate humans, though he stressed that exact predictions are impossible.

Key Points:

• AI Advancements Faster Than Expected: Hinton noted that AI is progressing more quickly than experts anticipated, with superintelligent AI potentially emerging within 10 years or less.
• Humanity at Risk: Hinton compared AI development to raising a tiger cub—initially harmless but potentially deadly when fully grown. "Things more intelligent than you are going to be able to manipulate you," he said.
• Global Competition Fuels Risks: Hinton criticized tech companies and nations for prioritizing innovation over safety, making it "very, very unlikely" that humanity will avoid building superintelligent AI.
• Disillusionment with Big Tech: Hinton, who resigned from Google in 2023, expressed disappointment with tech giants for reversing ethical stances, including Google's shift toward military AI applications.

Hinton, now a professor emeritus at the University of Toronto, left Google to speak freely about AI risks. His warnings come amid growing debates about AI ethics and regulation. For more on Hinton's views, read his interview with CBS News.

"I wouldn't be happy working for any of them today," Hinton said of major tech companies, underscoring his concerns about unchecked AI development.