Geoffrey Hinton, widely recognised as the “Godfather of AI,” recently received a Nobel Prize for his contributions to artificial intelligence, particularly in developing artificial neural networks. During his acceptance speech, Hinton expressed pride in one of his former students, Ilya Sutskever, who played a significant role in firing of Sam Altman.
“I was particularly fortunate to have many very clever students – much cleverer than me – who actually made things work,” Geoffrey Hinton said. “They’ve gone on to do great things. I’m particularly proud of the fact that one of my students fired Sam Altman.”
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Hinton’s concerns stem from his deep commitment to the ethical development of AI. He believes that under Altman’s leadership, OpenAI has shifted from its original mission of ensuring the safety of artificial general intelligence (AGI) to a more profit-driven approach. This change worries Hinton, who has long warned about the potential dangers AI poses to society. He argues that focusing on profits can compromise safety and ethics, which are crucial for responsible AI development.
Hinton, who helped pave the way for AI research by demonstrating the power of neural networks, is particularly alarmed by the increasing capabilities of AI systems. Initially, he thought AI would never match human intelligence in understanding language, but he has since changed his mind. Now, he fears that AI could surpass human intelligence in specific areas, which he finds unsettling. Hinton has also raised concerns about the potential for AI-generated misinformation flooding the internet, making it hard for people to distinguish between fact and fiction.
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Moreover, Hinton warns that the competitive race between tech giants like Google and Microsoft could lead to a dangerous global AI arms race. Unlike nuclear weapons, which are heavily regulated, AI research can happen behind closed doors, making it harder to control. He believes that collaboration among top scientists is essential to develop strategies for managing AI safely. Until this happens, Hinton argues that the development of AI should be paused to prevent unforeseen consequences.
In addition to Hinton, other prominent figures, including Elon Musk, have criticised Altman for moving OpenAI away from its nonprofit roots.