American physicist John Hopfield, a Nobel Prize winner, has expressed deep concerns about recent advancements in artificial intelligence, warning of the potential for catastrophe if the technology is not properly regulated.
Speaking via video at an event at New Jersey University, the 91-year-old Princeton professor emeritus emphasized the need for a deeper understanding of rapidly evolving technologies to prevent them from spiraling out of control.
Hopfield, who has witnessed the rise of powerful and potentially dangerous technologies such as bioengineering and nuclear physics, said, “As a physicist, I am troubled by anything that cannot be controlled or sufficiently understood, and this is the challenge that AI presents today.”
Despite acknowledging the “technological marvels” of modern AI systems, Hopfield cautioned that their underlying mechanisms are still not fully comprehended, urging for solutions that ensure their oversight.
Alongside fellow Nobel laureate Geoffrey Hinton, Hopfield stressed the necessity for a deeper understanding of AI, predicting that its potential capabilities might far exceed current expectations.
He also raised concerns about the fierce competition among companies racing to develop AI, which could accelerate innovation at a pace that outstrips scientists’ ability to fully grasp and control the technology.
Drawing from Kurt Vonnegut’s science fiction novel Cat’s Cradle, Hopfield likened the risks of AI to the fictional substance “Ice-Nine,” which unintentionally froze the oceans and destroyed civilization.
He concluded by stating, “I fear any technology that progresses faster than our ability to control or comprehend it, and AI may well be one of those domains.”
source: fesnews media