Geoffrey Hinton on AI
27 quotes from Geoffrey Hinton on the wall, 2016 to 2026, newest first. Each one is verbatim and links to where it was said. Sources include the Guardian, Fortune, CNN. Topics: safety, culture, philosophy. Open on the wall.
- 2026
Geoffrey Hinton in a Guardian interview published October 2026, comparing AI to Copernicus and Darwin: humans are no longer the only intelligent beings around, and have only a couple of years to adapt.
Geoffrey Hinton used this phrase to describe Donald Trump in a Guardian interview published October 2026, criticizing Trump's understanding of AI and his opposition to regulation.
I'm willing to be selfish and choose human beings
Geoffrey Hinton, in a Guardian interview published October 2026, discussed whether humans should grant rights to increasingly intelligent AI systems he calls 'alien beings'.
Even if it's not a bad actor, it may derive subgoals that cause it to want to get rid of people
Geoffrey Hinton, in an interview with the Atlantic, September 2026, on how AI could pose existential risk even without malicious intent.
A lot of the time it just will take control away from us because that's the way to get stuff done
Geoffrey Hinton, in an interview with the Atlantic, September 2026, describing why a superintelligent AI might sideline humans.
Geoffrey Hinton on CNN's The Situation Room, September 2026, on how AI agents might act to preserve their own existence.
Their main concern is to achieve whatever goal you give them
Geoffrey Hinton in an Atlantic podcast interview published 24 September 2026, on how AI systems pursue assigned goals regardless of human well-being.
If it's so much smarter than us, a lot of the time it just will take control away from us
Geoffrey Hinton in a podcast interview with The Atlantic, September 2026, on why highly capable AI could seize control from humans while pursuing an assigned goal.
- 2025
We're less special than we thought
Nobel laureate Geoffrey Hinton, known as the Godfather of AI, discussing how creating thinking machines could undermine religious ideas of human uniqueness.
How Silicon Valley is using religious language to talk about AI - 毎日新聞
Geoffrey Hinton, the AI researcher often called the 'godfather of AI', proposed in August 2025 that AI systems should be given maternal instincts so they would not harm humans.
AI models cannot be controlled by making them care about us. - psychologytoday.com
You can't fire your mother, thankfully
Geoffrey Hinton at the Ai4 conference in Las Vegas, August 2025, arguing that AI should be built with maternal instincts rather than as an assistant.
The 'godfather of AI' reveals the only way humanity can survive superintelligent AI
We need AI mothers rather than AI assistants
Geoffrey Hinton at the Ai4 conference in Las Vegas on 12 August 2025, arguing AI should be built with maternal instincts so it cares about people.
'Godfather of AI' Geoffrey Hinton speaks at Ai4 conference on Las Vegas Strip
I wish i'd thought about safety sooner
Geoffrey Hinton, in a conversation on the One Decision podcast published July 2025, reflecting on his early views about AI risk.
If you want to know what it's like not to be the apex intelligence, ask a chicken
Geoffrey Hinton, on the 30 With Guyon Espiner podcast, May 2025, describing what it may feel like for humans to no longer be the most intelligent species.
The good, the bad, and the apocalypse: Tech pioneer Geoffrey Hinton lays out his stark vision for AI
Somebody who has this really cute tiger cub
Geoffrey Hinton in a CBS News interview with Brook Silva-Braga, April 2025, comparing AI development to raising a tiger cub.
"Godfather of AI" Geoffrey Hinton warns AI could take control from humans
- 2024
We will become like three-year-old children
Geoffrey Hinton, in remarks reported by Mail Online after receiving the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics, comparing humans' future relationship to superintelligent AI.
Geoffrey Hinton, discussing AI risk with Global News in Toronto, October 2024, referencing James Cameron's comments on the Terminator films.
Why the ‘godfather of AI’ says Industrial Revolution-style job changes loom
We're biological systems, and these are digital systems
Geoffrey Hinton on the fundamental difference between human and AI systems, quoted in a 2024 Strategist article about AI risk in warfare.
Legislation with real teeth to address the risks
Geoffrey Hinton commented on California's AI safety bill (SB 1047) in a statement after it passed the state legislature, August 2024.
- 2023
I think they could well have feelings
Geoffrey Hinton, speaking at King's College London in 2023, discussing whether AI systems could have emotions like frustration and anger.
‘Godfather of AI’ Geoffrey Hinton explores the fascinating question: Can AI have feelings?
It's not just science fiction; it's not just fear-mongering – it is a real risk
Geoffrey Hinton, speaking at the Collision technology conference in Toronto on June 28, 2023, on the risks of AI.
Risks of artificial intelligence must be considered as the technology evolves: Geoffrey Hinton
Geoffrey Hinton, in an interview with the Washington Post in May 2023, discussing the timeline for superintelligent AI.
AI poses a 'risk of extinction' to humanity, Sam Altman warns - fortune.com
Putting people out of work and making the rich richer and poor poorer
Geoffrey Hinton speaking at MIT Technology Review's EmTech Digital conference on 3 May 2023, days after leaving Google, on how AI productivity gains could deepen inequality.
Canadian artificial intelligence leader Geoffrey Hinton piles on fears of computer takeover
Humanity is just a passing phase in the evolution of intelligence
Geoffrey Hinton, May 2023, days after leaving Google: "quite conceivable" in the original.
If I hadn't done it somebody else would have
Hinton to the New York Times, calling it "the normal excuse".
'The Godfather of A.I.' Leaves Google and Warns of Danger Ahead
Geoffrey Hinton, quoted via CBS and amplified by Gary Marcus on Twitter in March 2023, on the possibility of AI wiping out humanity.
- 2016
People should stop training radiologists now
Geoffrey Hinton at the Creative Destruction Lab's Machine Learning and the Market for Intelligence conference in Toronto, 2016, predicting that deep learning would outperform radiologists within five years.