Geoffrey Hinton, one of the foundational figures behind modern artificial intelligence, recently expressed deep concern about the direction the technology has taken. In interviews, he said he feels “very sad” that his life’s work has evolved into something with such profound risks, especially given how quickly AI capabilities have grown. Hinton’s perspective is particularly striking because he helped pioneer the deep learning methods that underlie today’s most advanced AI systems.
Hinton warned that AI could have major disruptive impacts, including massive job losses and social upheaval, as machines increasingly outperform humans in both routine and intellectual tasks. He reiterated that while AI has the potential to deliver significant benefits in areas like education and healthcare, those benefits won’t be automatically realized without careful, responsible development. But at the same time, he fears society has not taken existential and societal risks seriously enough.
One of his most unsettling concerns is the possibility that future AI systems might become difficult—or even impossible—to control if they develop motivations or behaviors that diverge from human intentions. Hinton highlighted the urgency of researching how humans could coexist with powerful AI and stressed that current regulatory and safety efforts lag far behind the pace of technological advancement. He also lamented the rise of authoritarian attitudes globally, which he believes makes meaningful AI governance even more challenging.
Despite his concerns, Hinton does not advocate stopping AI development altogether; rather, he argues for a strong, coordinated focus on safety and ethical design. He acknowledged his contributions to the field but emphasized that mitigating potential harms—especially as AI systems grow more powerful—must become a priority for governments, researchers, and industry leaders alike. His views reflect both optimism about AI’s benefits and deep worry about its long-term implications.
