Geoffrey Hinton quits Google, warns of potential dangers of further AI development. Hinton is widely considered the godfather of AI, and his groundbreaking 2012 tech breakthrough paved the way for current AIs like ChatGPT. However, he now regrets his work and is sounding the alarm on the potential negative consequences of AI.
Hinton’s work with two graduate students in Toronto in 2012 resulted in the creation of an algorithm that could analyze photos and identify common elements, such as dogs and cars. This was just the beginning of what AIs like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Bard AI are capable of today. Google purchased the company Hinton started around the algorithm for $44 million shortly after the breakthrough.
Hinton’s major concerns lie in the possibility of “bad actors” using AI for harmful purposes. “It is hard to see how you can prevent the bad actors from using it for bad things,” he warns. Hinton’s fears echo those expressed by more than 1,000 tech leaders earlier this year in a public letter that called for a brief halt to AI development.
Hinton did not sign the letter at the time, but now that he is no longer employed at Google, he has had a phone call with Google CEO Sundar Pichai to express his concerns. Despite Hinton’s departure, Google’s chief scientist, Jeff Dean, has stated that the company remains committed to a responsible approach to AI.
Hinton’s resignation and warning come at a time when AI is rapidly evolving, with many experts calling for more regulations and ethical considerations in its development. As Hinton points out, the progress made in the industry since 2012 is astonishing, but it’s also just the tip of the iceberg. The question remains: how can we ensure that AI is developed and used in a responsible and safe way?
