Geoffrey Hinton, a pioneering figure in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), and the creator of the technology that is the intellectual foundation of AI systems used by big tech companies, has officially left his job at Google after over a decade of working there. Hinton is one of several experts who believe that there are risks associated with generative AI technology, which underpins popular chatbots like ChatGPT.
Why it matters: Hinton’s departure marks a significant moment for the industry, as it undergoes an important inflection point. While the industry believes that new AI systems could be as significant as the introduction of the web browser, there is a fear that the technology could pose profound risks to society, humanity, and jobs.
- The risks associated with generative AI have prompted calls for a six-month moratorium on the development of new systems from over 1,000 technology leaders and researchers, who have signed an open letter warning that AI technologies pose profound risks to society and humanity.
- In March, the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence also warned of the risks of AI, and 19 current and former leaders released their own letter, which included Eric Horvitz, the chief scientific officer at Microsoft.
- Hinton, known as the “Godfather of AI”, did not sign either letter, but he is deeply opposed to the use of artificial intelligence on the battlefield, which he calls “robot soldiers”.
