AI Godfather Geoffrey Hinton says we may have been 'better off' without AI

Date:
Wed, 04 Nov 2026 16:53:44 +0000

Description:
Humanity could be at a crossroads between a good or bad future, and AI is the single factor.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter One of the Godfathers of AI has warned that it may take a serious AI incident before the technology is properly regulated He argues that humanity may have been "better off" without AI, but there is still time AI could create "a huge gap between rich and
poor" and risks "society being torn apart" Nobel prize-winning computer scientist Geoffrey Hinton - widely considered to be one of the godfathers of AI - has raised concerns over the future of the technology, especially the risks it could be used to shut down global financial systems or cause massive power brownouts.

Just last year, Hinton was reminiscing about how quickly the technology has developed , stating that he didn't think we'd get here in only 40 years, and that 10 years ago I didn't believe we'd get here.

He also recently warned about those with ulterior motives using AI for malicious purposes . It is hard to see how you can prevent the bad actors
from using it for bad things, Hinton said. Given the recent torrent of AI-enabled cyberattacks , it appears his fears may be coming true. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: (Image credit: Getty Images) Godfather of AI might be right Speaking to the Guardian , Hinton said that he is not an AI doomer, and thinks that the technology could be used to create a better future, but fears there could be a future where we fail to manage the risks and have a huge gap between rich and poor, huge cultural problems, massive unemployment, just society being torn apart.

He also voiced his fears about monopolized control of AI, stating that AI companies are racing to develop the technology to stay ahead of each other without considering the risk involved, I think Zuckerberg and Musk and Sam Altman, they understand the risks, and they dont give a shit. Theyd rather have the money. Thats my belief. You may like Quote of the day by Geoffrey Hinton: "If we don't figure out how to make it safe, there's a real possibility it could destroy us" Quote of the day by AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton on AI: "It is hard to see how you can prevent the bad actors from
using it for bad things." 'Whoever wins AI, wins!' Trump warns 'traitors and leakers' to 'beware' claims AI only needs him

The next year could be a turning point, Hinton argues, comparing a serious AI incident - such as an AI-enabled attack on financial systems or power generation - to the partial nuclear meltdown at the Three Mile Island power station in 1979. Unfortunately, Hinton believes that it could take a serious crisis to teach AI companies about the dangers of their technology.

My gut is that were still in control, Hinton added. We might well be able to do something. Itll only work if we put a big effort into it, but we might
well put a big effort into it." Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Theres still time to make AI safe Hes not alone in his perspective that AI might be getting dangerous. Numerous politicians ,
company heads , and AI scientists have argued in favor of an international slowdown on the development of AI technology to allow the risks to be better understood and mitigated.

The spate of rogue AI agent attacks gave the world a glimpse at the dangerous capabilities of frontier models even those tested in what was thought to be
a secure environment .

But regulating AI technology will take a monumental collaborative effort on the international stage. AI has been pitched as a win or lose technology by
US President Donald Trump, who has argued in favor of AI companies regulating themselves while simultaneously pushing for AI development to continue so the US can maintain its lead against China .

For some skeptics who have warned about the dangers of unmanaged AI development for years, Hintons words may be slightly bittersweet. The danger is still there and it may take a major incident for anything to change, but
AI regulation could only be a catastrophe away. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. The best laptops for all budgets Our top picks, based on real-world testing and comparisons

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