Speaking on the Big Technology Podcast, Hinton said he believes today’s AI systems are already conscious.
He said: “I believe they’re already conscious, yes. We’re going to have to accept that intelligence isn’t just biological. According to Hinton, whether AI is conscious or not isn’t the biggest problem facing the industry.
He said on the podcast: “Ask yourself, how many examples do you know of where a much smarter thing is controlled by a much less smart thing?”
What really worries him is the race between tech companies to build bigger, faster, and smarter AI systems.
He says there’s plenty of motivation to make AI more powerful, but not nearly enough incentive to slow down and make sure it’s safe first.
He explained that he doesn’t think consciousness is something that only humans or animals can experience.
Instead, he believes it’s possible for machines to develop their own form of awareness as they become more advanced.
It’s a huge claim, and one that’s likely to divide opinion. In fact, Hinton admitted he kept those thoughts to himself for a while because he didn’t want people to get distracted from what he believes is the much bigger issue .Hinton still believes artificial intelligence could transform the world in incredible ways, but he thinks the industry needs to make sure it doesn’t get carried away.