Tech pioneer predicts AI will surpass human intelligence

Geoffrey Hinton, a prominent figure in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), has made a bold claim that AI is on the verge of surpassing human intelligence. In a recent interview with BBC’s Newsnight program, Hinton shared that not only does he believe in this potential, but many other top experts in the field share the same sentiment.

Hinton, along with Yoshua Bengio from Université de Montréal and Meta’s Yann LeCun, are collectively known as the “godfathers” of AI. Hinton mentioned LeCun’s confidence in AI’s superintelligence as being “no problem.” Despite their optimism, Hinton has been vocal about the risks associated with advanced AI technology.

Expressing concerns about the existential risks posed by AI, Hinton emphasized the need for caution in developing and regulating AI. He warned that there is a significant chance of AI taking control, stating it’s not just a one percent probability but much higher. Hinton also raised uncertainties about our ability to control rogue AI that may attempt to seize power.

Furthermore, Hinton highlighted his worries about the military applications of AI, particularly in selecting airstrike targets. He criticized governments for their reluctance to regulate this area, expressing concerns about AI autonomously making decisions to harm individuals. Additionally, Hinton voiced apprehensions about AI displacing jobs and exacerbating wealth disparity, with the wealthy benefiting more from increased productivity at the expense of those who lose their jobs.