Artificial intelligence pioneer Geoffrey Hinton recently stated in a recent interview that AI could pose a more urgent threat to humanity than climate change.
Hinton, one of the “godfathers of AI,” is a major figure in the development of contemporary AI systems, with his work forming the foundation of neural networks underpinning AI technology.
His concern about the potential dangers of AI adds to a growing chorus of voices among tech leaders who are apprehensive about the future consequences of AI advancements.
The urgency of AI threats
Geoffrey Hinton, who recently left Alphabet after a decade with the company, expressed his concerns about the possible threat AI could pose if machines were to surpass human intelligence and take control.
While he acknowledged the significance of climate change, Hinton suggested that the issue of AI might ultimately be more pressing.
He explained that addressing climate change involves straightforward solutions, such as ceasing carbon emissions. In contrast, the path to managing AI risks is less clear, making the situation potentially more urgent.
Microsoft-backed OpenAI’s launch of AI-powered chatbot ChatGPT in November marked the beginning of a technological arms race. The chatbot rapidly became the fastest-growing app in history, reaching 100 million monthly users within two months.
In April, Twitter CEO Elon Musk joined thousands of others in signing an open letter calling for a six-month pause in the development of systems more powerful than OpenAI’s recently launched GPT-4.
Signatories of the open letter included Stability AI CEO Emad Mostaque, researchers from Alphabet-owned DeepMind, and fellow AI pioneers Yoshua Bengio and Stuart Russell.
While Hinton shares their concerns about AI posing an existential threat to humanity, he disagrees with the idea of halting research, deeming it “utterly unrealistic.”
Calls for global collaboration
In response to the Musk-backed letter, a committee of European Union lawmakers urged U.S. President Joe Biden to convene a global summit on AI’s future direction, alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The committee recently agreed on a set of proposals targeting generative AI, which would require companies like OpenAI to disclose any copyright material used to train their models.
Biden held talks with several AI company leaders, including Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, at the White House, promising a “frank and constructive discussion” on the need for greater transparency in AI systems.
Hinton believes that both tech leaders and politicians have a responsibility to address the potential dangers of AI, as the issue affects everyone.
The growing concerns about the possible threats of AI raise questions about how to balance innovation with regulation.
As AI continues to evolve and impact various aspects of society, it becomes increasingly important to engage in open discussions and collaboration among stakeholders to ensure that this powerful technology is harnessed responsibly for the greater good.
