Geoffrey Hinton, the British-Canadian computer scientist often hailed as a \"godfather\" of Artificial Intelligence (AI), has raised his estimate for the likelihood of AI causing human extinction in the next three decades.
In a recent interview on BBC Radio 4's Today program, Hinton revealed a heightened concern, suggesting there is now a \"10 percent to 20 percent\" chance that AI could lead to humanity's extinction within the next 30 years. This marks an increase from his previous assessment, where he estimated a 10 percent risk.
When questioned by former UK Finance Secretary Sajid Javid about his adjusted view on the potential for an AI apocalypse, Hinton stated, \"We've never had to deal with things more intelligent than ourselves before.\" He further illustrated the issue by comparing the relationship between humans and advanced AI to that of toddlers and adults, emphasizing the unprecedented nature of AI intelligence.
Hinton elaborated, \"How many examples do you know of a more intelligent thing being controlled by a less intelligent thing? There are very few examples.\" He highlighted the unique challenge posed by AI's rapid development, stating, \"The pace of AI development has been very, very fast, much faster than I expected.\"
Expressing his concerns, Hinton called for increased government regulation to ensure the safe development of AI technologies. \"The only thing that can force those big companies to do more research on safety is government regulation,\" he explained, warning that relying solely on the profit motives of large companies may not suffice to address the potential risks.
As AI continues to evolve, experts like Hinton stress the importance of proactive measures to mitigate the existential threats it may pose, advocating for a balanced approach that fosters innovation while prioritizing human safety.
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30 years left? AI 'Godfather' warns the technology may end humanity
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