Geoffrey Hinton, a British computer scientist and a pioneer in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), has raised the alarm about the potential dangers of the technology he helped create. Hinton, who is known as the “Godfather of AI,” has recently left his position as a vice president and engineering fellow at Google to join other experts in the field in speaking out about the risks posed by AI.
In a recent interview with The New York Times, Hinton expressed his concerns about the use of AI by "bad actors" to cause harm, stating that it is difficult to prevent them from doing so. His views are in line with those expressed in an open letter written by the nonprofit Future of Life Institute, which was signed by many AI professionals after the launch of OpenAI's latest GPT chatbot in March. The letter warned that AI poses "profound risks to society and humanity."
Hinton finds the recent advancements in AI to be "scary" and worries about what they might mean for the future, especially now that Microsoft has integrated the technology into its Bing search engine. Hinton is concerned that the race between Big Tech companies to develop more powerful AI could easily spiral out of control. One particular aspect of AI technology that worries him is its ability to create false images, photos, and text to the point where it becomes difficult for the viewer to discern what is true and what is not.
Hinton also warned that in the future, AI could potentially replace humans in the workplace and be used to create fully autonomous weapons. He is calling for greater regulation of the technology and for the implementation of measures to ensure that it is used ethically and responsibly. Hinton's warnings highlight the urgent need for careful consideration of the potential risks and benefits of AI as we continue to integrate this powerful technology into our lives.
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