Neural network pioneer Geoffrey Hinton warned that the technology could trigger severe crises, including shutdowns of electrical grids or financial networks as early as this year. Conversely, some argue an early shock is vital because current safety initiatives merely mask hazards and prevent society from abandoning destructive systems. In academic mathematics, which faces polarization over automation, proponents of this view believe a complete collapse could ultimately purge systemic flaws. This perspective also asserts that media and corporate leaders intentionally magnify disaster scenarios to safeguard their influence and profits.
Key points
Early systemic disruptions may serve as a necessary shock to prevent total human dependen…: Early systemic disruptions may serve as a necessary shock to prevent total human dependency on automated technology.
Current safety initiatives are viewed by some critics as superficial efforts that obscure…: Current safety initiatives are viewed by some critics as superficial efforts that obscure deeper hazards.
Elite institutions and corporate leaders may exaggerate disaster narratives to preserve t…: Elite institutions and corporate leaders may exaggerate disaster narratives to preserve their profits and social influence.
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Geoffrey Hinton, who won the Nobel prize in physics for research in neural networks, recently talked to The Guardian newspaper. From the article:
One of the “godfathers of AI”, Geoffrey Hinton, has said it could turn out that humans would have been better off never developing the technology as he warned it could trigger a large-scale incident this year or next, such as a temporary blackout of financial or power systems.
Of course, like typical mainstream media, this article basically says “there’s a risk, tech CEOs are irresponsible, Trump is irresponsible, and we need regulation.”
But anyway, let’s explore Dr. Hinton’s worry that AI could bring down the electrical grid or cause a financial meltdown. Although that would suck in some ways, it would likely be the least horrible of all things that could happen.
Indeed, what sounds far worse to me is that AI keeps on evolving and getting more powerful, and nothing obviously bad happens. Because then, we’re just going to be locked into a world where everything is AI, immense amounts of energy is wasted, intellectual communities…
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