Geoffrey Hinton calls for federal drug-style oversight of artificial intelligence and warns of unchecked risks

Nobel prize-winning computer scientist Geoffrey Hinton warned in an interview with The Guardian that humanity might have been better off never developing artificial intelligence. While insisting he is not an AI doomer and acknowledges the technology's potential benefits, Hinton cautioned that unchecked progress could lead to massive unemployment, severe wealth disparity, and societal collapse. [1][2]

Hinton criticized tech executives including Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and Sam Altman, asserting they understand the risks but prioritize profits instead. To counter these dangers, he proposed establishing an independent federal regulatory agency modeled on the American FDA, which would require tech companies to provide rigorous statistical evidence that an AI model does more good than harm before releasing it publicly. [1][2]

Comparing the current trajectory to the 1979 Three Mile Island nuclear accident, Hinton suggested it might take a major catastrophe—such as attacks targeting power generation or financial systems—to spur meaningful oversight. Despite the warnings, Hinton maintained that humanity is still in control and could safely manage the technology if governments and researchers mount a concerted effort. [1][2]