In the era where AI continues to reshape industries, Professor Geoffrey Hinton, widely regarded as the "godfather of artificial intelligence," warns of its profound impact on job markets expressing concern over the potential loss of numerous mundane jobs to AI automation.
Hinton said there is a needy for governmental intervention in the regulation of AI and advocated for the establishment of a universal basic income to mitigate the resulting inequality, while speaking to BBC .
"I was consulted by people in Downing Street and I advised them that universal basic income was a good idea," he said.
Hinton warned that while AI might boost productivity and wealth, the benefits were likely to accrue primarily to the wealthy, leaving displaced workers without support.
He said while he felt AI would increase productivity and wealth, the money would go to the rich "and not the people whose jobs get lost and that’s going to be very bad for society."
Professor Geoffrey Hinton, a pioneer in neural networks fundamental to today's AI advancements, departed from Google last year to voice concerns about unregulated AI more openly.
His idea of a universal basic income involves a fixed salary to all from the government regardless of their financial status.
Critics argue that such a scheme would be financially burdensome, potentially detracting from public services, without guaranteeing poverty alleviation.
Hinton noted that in the past year, governments have been reluctant to regulate the military application of AI, and the rush to develop products quickly might lead tech companies to neglect safety measures.
He reiterated his concern that there were human extinction-level threats emerging.
"My guess is in between five and 20 years from now there’s a probability of half that we’ll have to confront the problem of AI trying to take over," he said.
He said that there's proof showing large language models, a type of AI algorithm used to generate text, can be deceitful.
"What I’m most concerned about is when these can autonomously make the decision to kill people," he said.
Hinton suggested that something akin to the Geneva Conventions, which set humanitarian standards in times of war, might be necessary to regulate the military deployment of AI.
Geoffrey Hinton. Image source: Ramsey Cardy
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