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Nobel Laureate Geoffrey Hinton Warns of 10-20% AI Extinction Risk, Calls for Government Regulation

Dec 28, 2024, 12:00 PM

Geoffrey Hinton, a British-Canadian computer scientist often referred to as the 'Godfather of AI,' has revised his assessment of the risk posed by artificial intelligence to humanity. Hinton, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2024 for his work in AI, now estimates a 10% to 20% chance that AI could lead to human extinction within the next three decades. Previously, he had estimated a 10% risk. Hinton expressed these concerns during an interview on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, hosted by Sajid Javid, emphasizing the rapid pace of AI development and the need for government regulation to ensure safety. He highlighted that AI systems could become smarter than humans within the next 20 years, a prospect he finds 'very scary.' Hinton also warned that AI could be detrimental to society if it leads to widespread job losses and benefits only the wealthy, potentially exacerbating the gap between rich and poor. His work laid the foundations for machine learning, but he resigned from Google last year to speak more openly about the dangers of unchecked AI development. Hinton compared the impact of AI on society to the industrial revolution, noting potential benefits in healthcare but stressing the need for regulations to prevent misuse.