For AI to win, millions of people have to lose | Geoffrey Hinton: “to make money you’re going to have to replace human labor”
The ‘Godfather of AI’ has spoken out about the scary future of the technology.
It was inevitable: Frankenstein’s monster has come back to crush his creator. Geoffrey Hinton, the “godfather of AI”, warned that the path forward for artificial intelligence involves large-scale job displacement. In a recent interview with Bloomberg, he argued that the commercial success of the AI industry rests on replacing human work, not augmenting it.
Hinton pointed out that despite the massive investments being poured into AI infrastructure the returns remain elusive for now. He suggests that the reason is simple: if you’re in business to make profits, one of your most substantial costs is human labour. Remove that cost and the business case becomes far more compelling.
“To make money you have to replace human labor”
“I think the big companies are betting on it causing massive job replacement by AI, because that’s where the big money is going to be,” he warned.
When asked whether these huge investments could ever work without destroying the job market, Hinton sent out a pointed message. “I believe that it can’t,” he admitted. “I believe that to make money you’re going to have to replace human labor.”
What makes this statement unsettling is the implication from Hinton: billions of people might have to lose their job and livelihoods for the AI boom to truly win. It raises deep questions about equity, meaning in work, societal stability and whether we are morally comfortable with progress that profits at the expense of human livelihoods.
Related stories
Of course, it doesn’t have to play out this way. Hinton himself acknowledges that AI could generate immense benefits in many sectors: “It’s not like nuclear weapons, which are only good for bad things‚” he said, trying to justify why losing a leg isn’t bad because you could have lost two. “It’s a difficult decision, because it can do tremendous good in health care and education. It’ll do tremendous good, and in fact if you think about it increasing productivity in many, many industries, that should be good.”
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
Complete your personal details to comment