"Lifelong Devoted Research, Regrets It"…'AI Godfather' Who Resigned from Google [News Figures]

Geoffrey Hinton (76), known as the 'Godfather of AI' who proposed embedding 'artificial neural networks' similar to neurons in the human brain into artificial intelligence (AI) and has been researching AI for over 50 years, has left Google. Concerned that the intensified competition among companies for AI dominance following the success of ChatGPT could have adverse effects on society, he expressed regret over his decades-long research.

Dr. Geoffrey Hinton, known as the "Godfather of Artificial Intelligence (AI)" (Photo by himself on SNS)

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The New York Times (NYT) reported on the 1st (local time) that Dr. Hinton resigned from Google last month. He had continued his research activities at Google after his AI company 'DNN Research,' which he founded while serving as a professor of computer science at the University of Toronto in Canada, was acquired by Google in 2013. After submitting his resignation, he recently spoke with Sundar Pichai, Google's CEO, and is currently staying at his home in Toronto.

Born in the United Kingdom, he has been researching AI since 1972 when he was enrolled in a doctoral program at the University of Edinburgh. He is especially recognized as a researcher who proposed the concept of 'artificial neural networks,' a method enabling computers to analyze information in a way similar to how humans solve problems through the brain. Initially, his fellow researchers were skeptical about the feasibility of his idea, but he continued his research and contributed to realizing artificial neural networks.

DNN Research, founded in 2012 by Dr. Hinton and two of his students, showcased technology that allowed computers to analyze thousands of images and autonomously recognize objects such as flowers, dogs, and cars. Subsequently, Google acquired DNN Research for $44 million (approximately 5.9 billion KRW), and the technology held by this company is credited with contributing to the birth of ChatGPT.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

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In recognition of these achievements, Dr. Hinton and two of his students were awarded the 'Turing Award' in 2018, often called the Nobel Prize of computer science.

Regarded as having had a profound impact on the development of AI, Dr. Hinton expressed regret about his lifelong accomplishments upon announcing his departure from Google. He comforted himself by saying that "even if I had not researched AI, someone else would have," but also expressed difficulty, saying, "It is hard to figure out how to prevent villains from using this (AI) for malicious purposes."

Dr. Hinton cited the dangers of AI as the reason for parting ways with Google, where he had been involved in AI research. He said it was to freely warn about the negative impacts AI could have on humanity after leaving the organization where he had worked for ten years. Although he did not participate in the open letter recently emphasized by Elon Musk, Tesla CEO, Yuval Harari, professor at Hebrew University, and various AI experts calling for a six-month pause in AI development, he acknowledged the concerns.

Dr. Hinton had previously evaluated that machines were inferior to humans in understanding and processing language. However, last year, as Google and OpenAI built systems using vast amounts of data, he assessed that AI began to surpass human intelligence in some functions. He stated, "Perhaps what happens in this system is actually better than what happens in the brain."

In particular, Dr. Hinton pointed out that as companies improve AI systems, these systems are becoming increasingly dangerous. This is a warning about the current situation where Microsoft (MS) and Google are competing to develop and deploy generative AI technology. He emphasized, "Look at how (AI technology) was five years ago and how it is now." In a March interview with CBS, he also expressed the view that we should not leave it to profit-driven companies to establish mechanisms to control AI innovation.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

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Having conducted AI research at Google, he evaluated that until last year, Google played the role of a 'responsible regulator,' paying attention to prevent AI from being used recklessly. This situation changed instantly when MS integrated an AI chatbot into the Bing search engine, prompting Google to enter competitive mode. Dr. Hinton pointed out that tech companies have become trapped in an 'unstoppable competition.' Shortly after the NYT article was published, he also emphasized once again on his Twitter, "Google acted very responsibly."

Dr. Hinton's immediate concern is the explosive proliferation of fake photos and videos on the internet. He warned, "Ordinary people will no longer be able to know what the truth is." He also expressed concerns about the impact of AI technology on the labor market. While ChatGPT and others can complement human work capabilities, he believed they could replace roles such as secretaries and translators.

Dr. Hinton stressed the need for international regulations on AI research. Unlike nuclear weapons, which can be tracked by other countries even if developed secretly, he pointed out that even if regulations are introduced, companies or countries might continue research on AI. Therefore, it is important for researchers to raise their voices together about the risks of AI research and to self-regulate, according to Dr. Hinton. He also expressed fear of the day when 'killer robots' equipped with AI technology become a reality.

Dr. Hinton said, "Only a few thought that this thing (AI) could become smarter than actual humans, and most did not. I believed it would take 30 to 50 years, or even longer, for AI to become smarter than humans," but added, "However, I definitely no longer think so."

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