Geoffrey Hinton, who is known for developing key advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) that power widely used tools, like ChatGPT, expressed regret over his life's work due to the potential for AI to be misused.
According to MailOnline, the 75-year-old British-Canadian pioneer also referred to as the "godfather of AI" sparked controversy by abruptly leaving his job at Google and issuing a warning that popular chatbots, like ChatGPT, could eventually surpass human intelligence, adding fuel to a growing debate about the safety of AI technology.
Illustration picture shows the ChatGPT artificial intelligence software, which generates human-like conversation, Friday 03 February 2023 in Lierde.
Hinton Warns of the Dangers of AI Chatbots
Hinton, who is a cognitive psychologist and computer scientist known for pioneering research in neural networks and deep learning, has resigned from Google, stating in an article in The New York Times that he now regrets his previous work on AI. He said that AI chatbots have the potential to overtake human capabilities soon and that the dangers of this development are concerning.
Moreover, he raised the alarm regarding "bad actors" who might misuse AI for nefarious purposes and alluded to the possibility of AI creating its sub-goals and gaining power. Hinton thinks that the AI being developed is very different from human intelligence, as it is a digital system, and that current AI systems have more general knowledge than any single human being could hold.
Hinton's announcement underlines how rapidly AI capabilities are accelerating, and many experts have expressed concerns about the speed and direction of AI development. In particular, Hinton is concerned about how chatbots will continue to learn and use the knowledge that they gather from their conversations.
This technology, while holding great potential for good, also requires significant investment for AI's safety and control. Hinton told BBC that the intelligence being created is different from the intelligence that humans possess in important ways.
Hinton's concern is that these AI chatbots are still in their early phases, and the technology behind them is still being developed and explored. AI chatbots can eclipse a person in the amount of knowledge they possess, but their reasoning is still not as advanced. Given the rate of progress currently taking place, Hinton believes there is a cause to worry about what could happen if AI improves fast enough.
Silicon Valley Civil War on the Use of AI
As MailOnline reported, Hinton's resignation has sparked a fierce debate about the potential danger of chatbots. Hinton issued a warning that chatbots, like ChatGPT, could become smarter than humans and pose a threat to humanity.
There are differing views regarding AI's impact on humanity, with some people arguing that it could help cure cancer, solve climate change, and eradicate poverty, while others worry that AI could lead to the extinction of humanity.
The debate has escalated with Microsoft's Bill Gates supporting the technology while Elon Musk remains a critic. Earlier this year, more than a thousand tech tycoons signed a letter calling for a halt on the 'dangerous race' to advance AI, warning that urgent action is required before robots pose a risk to humans.
Dr. Hinton's warning is likely to intensify the debate between supporters and critics of AI, as chatbots like ChatGPT and Google's Bard divide opinion. Some view them as the virtual assistants of the future, while others worry that they may signal the beginning of the end for humanity.
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