An AI Innovator Turns His Back On His Own Creation

The debate over artificial intelligence rages on, but there doesn’t seem to be anything we can do to meaningfully slow its progress. For some, that’s a good thing with seemingly endless possibilities.

Others, however, are increasingly worried about the rapidly evolving technology. Perhaps most troubling is the fact that one its pioneers now considers himself a part of this crowd.

Leaving Google

For more than a decade, Geoffrey Hinton has been working on the skeleton of what we now know as AI, including the framework that powers platforms like ChatGPT.

This week, he explained why he’s now plagued with regret.

In order to speak openly about his concerns, he had to leave his prestigious job at Google — but he felt it was worth it to warn us all about what he sees as the serious risks involved in embracing AI.

“It is hard to see how you can prevent the bad actors from using it for bad things,” Hinton said.

In the short term, he shares misgivings about how chatbots and other AI tools can spread misinformation and even intensify division.

Beyond that, some of the most ardent critics think the technology could be detrimental to human society.

The path to condemnation

Although Hinton wasn’t one of the more than 1,100 prominent tech figures who signed a letter warning of AI’s possible negative effects, he clearly shares some of their trepidations.

He advised: “Look at how it was five years ago and how it is now. Take the difference and propagate it forward. That’s scary.”

Now, the industry he essentially created from scratch as a graduate student in 1972 is keeping him up at night.

His former employer and other AI companies claim they’re doing everything right, but Hinton’s not the only one who isn’t convinced.

Chris Agee May 2nd, 2023

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