"The collapse of the electricity grid will be our Chernobyl": the warning of the father of artificial intelligence
Prof. Geoffrey Hinton, Nobel Prize winner in Physics, warns in an interview with The Guardian about AI-powered cyberattacks that could shut down power grids and banking systems. He attacks Zuckerberg, Musk, and Altman: 'They understand the risks, but they prefer the money.'
Prof. Geoffrey Hinton, Nobel Prize winner in Physics and one of the pioneers of artificial intelligence, warns that technological progress could lead to a global disaster comparable in magnitude to the Chernobyl disaster. In an interview with the British newspaper The Guardian, Hinton described two alarming scenarios: an AI-powered cyberattack leading to widespread power outages, or a disruption of the financial system for about a week. According to him, such an event could shake the economy and society and lead to a dramatic change in government oversight of technology. Hinton directed sharp criticism at top tech industry figures – Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and Sam Altman – who he claims are aware of the dangers but prioritize profits. He also criticized OpenAI, arguing it has strayed from its original emphasis on safety. One of his key concerns is the development of autonomous AI agents capable of identifying and exploiting security vulnerabilities without human intervention. However, Hinton does not believe disaster is inevitable, stating that the coming years will be decisive in determining the future of the technology.