Geoffrey Hinton: AI Could Unite Nations Against Common Existential Threat

Renowned AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton, often referred to as the "godfather of AI," has shared a sobering yet hopeful vision for the future of artificial intelligence. Speaking at a seminar hosted by the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, Hinton emphasized that while nations are currently locked in a race for AI military supremacy, collaboration may arise when AI poses an existential threat to humanity.

The Current AI Arms Race

Hinton highlighted that countries like the United States, China, Russia, Britain, and Israel are heavily focused on developing autonomous lethal weapons. These AI-powered systems are designed to provide strategic military advantages, with minimal regulation or transparency.

"On risks like lethal autonomous weapons, countries will not collaborate," Hinton said. "All of the major countries that supply arms... are busy making autonomous lethal weapons, and they're not gonna be slowed down, they're not gonna regulate themselves, and they're not gonna collaborate."

AI as a Unifying Threat

Despite the current competition, Hinton suggested that nations could come together when faced with the existential risks posed by super-intelligent AI.

"When these things are smarter than us — which almost all the researchers I know believe they will be, we just differ on how soon — will they take over, and is there anything we can do to prevent that from happening?" Hinton asked. "We'll get collaboration on that because all of the countries don't want that to happen."

Hinton likened this potential collaboration to the Cold War era, when adversaries such as the U.S. and Soviet Union worked together to prevent nuclear catastrophe. He argued that nations, including China's leadership, would prioritize retaining human control over AI to preserve their power.

Calls for Regulation

Hinton's warnings echo sentiments expressed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who has urged world leaders to create an international agency to oversee and regulate powerful AI systems. Altman has warned that advanced AI could soon cause "significant global harm" without proper safety testing and governance.

Efforts to address these risks have already begun. In November, U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping reached an agreement at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit that humans, not AI, should decide on the use of nuclear technology.

A High-Stakes Future

According to Goldman Sachs, global investment in AI is expected to reach $200 billion by 2025, with the United States and China leading the charge. While the rapid development of AI offers immense potential, it also raises profound ethical, societal, and existential questions.

What This Means 

Hinton's vision highlights both the dangers and the potential for unity in AI's future. The prospect of super-intelligent AI could drive nations to set aside their rivalries to protect humanity as a whole. However, achieving global collaboration will require unprecedented levels of trust, transparency, and regulation—factors often in short supply during geopolitical tensions.

The steps taken today, including early agreements like the Biden-Xi pact and calls for international oversight, could lay the groundwork for a safer AI future. Whether nations will act decisively to manage the risks remains uncertain, but the stakes have never been higher.

Editor’s Note: This article was created by Alicia Shapiro, CMO of AiNews.com, with writing, image, and idea-generation support from ChatGPT, an AI assistant. However, the final perspective and editorial choices are solely Alicia Shapiro’s. Special thanks to ChatGPT for assistance with research and editorial support in crafting this article.