Geoffrey Hinton, often called the ‘Godfather of AI’ for his groundbreaking work in artificial intelligence, has issued a strong warning about the potential dangers AI poses to humanity. With concerns rising about AI’s rapid advancement, Hinton believes that simply trying to keep AI under human control won’t be enough to keep us safe in the future.
At a recent AI conference in Las Vegas, Hinton proposed a unique idea: artificial intelligence should be designed with ‘maternal instincts’ so it naturally cares for and protects humans as it grows more powerful. He compared this to the relationship between a mother and her child, where the mother—though less intelligent—is guided by a deep nurturing instinct to protect her baby.
Hinton explained that as AI systems become smarter, they may develop survival instincts and seek more control, making it dangerous if they don’t have built-in care for humans. He said, “Super-intelligent, caring AI mothers—most won’t want to get rid of that maternal instinct because they don’t want us to die.”
Though the idea may sound unusual, Hinton feels that this model could be more effective than current approaches focused on strict control, which AI might outsmart. He admitted that how to create such ‘maternal AI’ remains unclear but emphasized the importance of exploring this path to prevent potential harm.
Hinton has also updated his timeline for when Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)—AI that can perform any intellectual task humans can—might arrive, now predicting it could happen within five to twenty years, shorter than previous estimates.
His warnings remind us that while AI holds great promise, it also demands careful thought and new strategies to protect humanity’s future.
