“Father of AI”, Dr. Jeffrey Hinton, Leaves Google to Speak Out Against the Dangers of Artificial Intelligence
Dr. Jeffrey Hinton, known as the “father of artificial intelligence,” has left Google citing his concerns about the negative impact of AI on society. According to The New York Times, Hinton left the company in order to talk more openly about the dangers of this technology and to express his regret for contributing to its development. Hinton, who is 75 years old, joined Google ten years ago to develop the company’s AI technologies.
Hinton believes that there are several significant risks associated with AI, including the possibility of creating a genuine digital mind, the loss of jobs, and the spread of disinformation. He fears that AI-powered systems such as chatbots could become smarter than humans and be used for destructive purposes such as manipulating voters. Hinton is also concerned about the short-term consequences of AI, such as the flood of false information on the internet and the potential replacement of jobs by AI-powered systems.
Google’s main scientist, Jeff Dean, expressed appreciation for Hinton’s contribution to the company’s work over the past decade and said that Google is committed to developing AI responsibly. Other leading figures in the field of artificial intelligence have also expressed similar concerns about the potential harms of AI. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, for example, recently criticized the co-founder of Google, Larry Page, for not taking AI safety issues seriously.
Valeri Pisano, Chief Executive Director of the Quebec Institute of Artificial Intelligence (Mila), pointed out that the lack of focus on AI safety is unacceptable in any other industry. She noted that while AI technology is already on the market, developers seem to be waiting for something to go wrong before taking action to prevent harm. Toby Walsh, the main scientist of the Institute of Artificial Intelligence at the University of New South Wales, advised people to be cautious with any online media they encounter and be aware that the content could be false.
Dr. Hinton’s decision to leave Google and speak out against the dangers of AI underscores the need for more transparency and accountability in the development of this technology. As AI becomes more integrated into our daily lives, it is essential that developers and policymakers work together to ensure that it is used in ways that benefit society as a whole.