AI pioneer warns of 20% risk of human extinction
Geoffrey Hinton, known as the "godfather of AI," has voiced concerns about the growing threat posed by artificial intelligence. According to LadBible, Hinton estimated that the risk of AI leading to human extinction has risen to 20 percent.
Geoffrey Hinton, a renowned figure in the field of artificial intelligence, expressed serious concerns about the pace of AI development. Often referred to as the "godfather of AI," Hinton highlighted that progress in this field is occurring much faster than expected. He left his position at Google to share his thoughts on the threats posed by artificial intelligence.
In a conversation with BBC Radio 4, Hinton estimated that there is a 10 to 20 percent chance that AI could lead to human extinction. He noted that humans have never before dealt with a being more intelligent than themselves, which poses an extraordinary challenge. "How many examples do you know of a more intelligent thing being controlled by a less intelligent thing?" he asked rhetorically.
Hinton emphasized that slowing down AI development is only possible through the introduction of government regulations, which would force corporations to adopt a more responsible approach to this technology. Illustrating the potential intelligence gap between humans and AI, he compared us to three-year-olds facing a much more powerful machine intellect.
The professor admitted that the scale and speed of AI development even surprised him. Experts predict that within the next 20 years, AI systems exceeding human intelligence will be created, which Hinton regards as a worrying prospect. He believes that only proper regulations can delay this process and reduce the risks associated with the technology.
As reported by LadBible, Hinton's concerns include the risk of AI flooding the internet with fake content, generating disinformation, and political manipulation. He also pointed out the possible job displacement, which could disrupt the employment market.
Could artificial intelligence be dangerous?
During a recent meeting at Bletchley Park, which brought together politicians, technology industry leaders, and AI experts, including Hinton, they discussed the global threats posed by artificial intelligence.
The discussions focused on the need for international cooperation in regulation to prevent AI from achieving self-awareness or creating biological weapons. It was pointed out that AI should be monitored as strictly as nuclear technologies because, without appropriate regulations, it can become a threat on the scale of weapons of mass destruction.
