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Influential computer scientist Geoffrey Hinton has accused leading technology executives of prioritising commercial interests over the potential dangers of artificial intelligence (AI).
The Nobel Prize-winning scientist, widely regarded as the ‘godfather of AI’, said OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman, Tesla and xAI chief Elon Musk, and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg were aware of the possible dangers of AI but were giving greater importance to making money than ensuring safety.
Hinton, 78, made the remarks in a recent interview with British newspaper The Guardian.
He warned that AI could trigger a major disaster towards the end of this year or in 2027, potentially disrupting electricity supply systems or paralysing financial networks.
He compared the potential catastrophe to the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Ukraine.
According to Hinton, AI could bring sweeping changes to society and the global economy. While the technology offers enormous economic opportunities, he said a major concern is whether humans will be able to maintain control over increasingly sophisticated AI systems.
He also suggested that humanity might have been better off if the technology had never been developed.
Hinton’s warning comes amid growing global debate over the pace of AI development, the commercial race among technology companies and the need for stronger safeguards to prevent potentially catastrophic consequences.
