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Geoffrey Hinton Warns AI Could Trigger a Major Infrastructure Failure
Geoffrey Hinton warns AI could cause a large-scale blackout of financial or power systems this year or next.
Key points
- Hinton said a large-scale incident, such as a temporary blackout of financial or power systems, could happen this year or next.
- Hinton, 78, said he is not a doomer and believes AI has the potential to lead to a "wonderful future".
- Hinton said he did not trust OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman "at all".
Why it matters. Hinton's warning highlights concern that AI firms racing to release more powerful models could contribute to a large-scale incident affecting financial or power systems.
Nobel prize-winning computer scientist Geoffrey Hinton told the Guardian that a large-scale incident, such as a temporary blackout of financial or power systems, could occur this year or next. Hinton, 78, said within a decade, possibly sooner, humanity will know whether it can manage AI risks and achieve "radical abundance". He said he did not trust OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman "at all", accusing AI leaders of taking risks because "they'd rather have the money".
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Geoffrey Hinton Warns AI Could Trigger a Major Infrastructure Failure
Geoffrey Hinton, a Nobel laureate often called one of the 'godfathers of AI', has issued a warning about the technology. He says AI could be near triggering a major incident, such as a shutdown of power or banking systems. Hinton has suggested that it might turn out humanity was better off without AI. The Guardian reports the remarks as a warning rather than a measured forecast. The snippet available does not include further technical detail or a response from industry or regulators.