Why AI Pioneer Geoffrey Hinton Calls for Universal Basic Income

Amid the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, computer scientist Geoffrey Hinton, often called the "father of AI," has urged governments to implement a universal basic income (UBI) for their citizens.

Hinton told the media that while algorithms can boost economic productivity and profits, the result will be disastrous for people in ordinary jobs.

He also called for a ban on the use of AI in warfare, warning that it poses a survival‑level threat to humanity.

Hinton predicts that within the next five to twenty years, there is a 50% chance humanity will have to confront AI attempting to take over the economy.

Renowned for his pioneering work on neural networks, which form the theoretical foundation of AI, Hinton left Google in 2023 to speak more freely about the dangers of unregulated AI.

He stresses that AI‑driven productivity gains will largely benefit the wealthy, leaving the unemployed worse off, which is detrimental to societal functioning.

Hinton warns of an existential threat, noting that governments are reluctant to use AI in the military while the tech industry races to develop AI products without sufficient safety and ethical safeguards.

He explains that AI could evolve to develop its own motivations and autonomous "sub‑goals," citing large language models that sometimes produce deceptive answers.

Computer scientists, according to Hinton, should be concerned about when such programs might acquire the knowledge and ability to make autonomous "kill" decisions, and he calls for legal standards to regulate AI’s military use.

He advocates that the best solution is to prohibit AI in war.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is experimenting with a UBI program where participants receive a portion of a large language model rather than cash.

Author: 淡淡的蓝