The 'Godfather of AI' says it's not 'unreasonable' to believe there's a 10% chance the technology will end humanity
Geoffrey Hinton, a pioneer in artificial intelligence, has stated that there is a significant 10% chance that AI could pose an existential threat to humanity within the next decade. He notes that the timeline for such risks has compressed as AI models advance rapidly in capability.
Why it matters
As a leading figure in AI development, Hinton's warnings highlight the growing debate among experts regarding the safety and long-term societal risks of rapid AI scaling.
Geoffrey Hinton said there are a number of ways AI could wipe out humanity, including by developing a deadly virus. PONTUS LUNDAHL/TT NEWS AGENCY/AFP via Getty Images Geoffrey Hinton says it's "not unreasonable" to suggest there is a 10% chance AI wipes out humanity in a decade. A former Anthropic researcher has renewed the conversation around AI risks. Hinton also said the window where AI could wipe out humanity is shrinking. The "Godfather of AI" says it's difficult to estimate the chance AI will wipe us all out, but it's not zero. "A 10% chance seems not an unreasonable estimate to me, but nobody really knows how to give a sensible estimate," Geoffrey Hinton said during an interview Wednesday on the BBC's "Newsnight."
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