Geoffrey Hinton, a globally recognized expert in artificial intelligence (AI) often referred to as the “Godfather of AI,” recently held consultations with members of the United Kingdom’s government at Downing Street. During the meeting, Hinton advised lawmakers to consider implementing a universal basic income (UBI) as a solution to the impending job loss caused by AI.
Until recently, Hinton was employed at Google where he worked on developing advanced AI features for neural networks. These neural networks serve as the foundational technology behind many modern generative AI systems, including Google’s Gemini and OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
Hinton expressed his belief that the AI revolution will primarily benefit the wealthy, while individuals in lower-income positions, such as blue-collar workers and those employed in automatable jobs, will face the loss of their sources of income. He emphasized that this would have negative consequences for society during an interview with the BBC.
“I was consulted by individuals at Downing Street, and I recommended that implementing a universal basic income would be a beneficial idea,” stated Hinton.
Hinton is not the only prominent figure in the AI field who supports the necessity of UBI to counteract the impact of automation on the human economy. Sam Altman, the co-founder of OpenAI, studied under Hinton and played a crucial role in advancing neural network technology. Altman is well-known for his position at OpenAI and his strong advocacy for UBI.
Altman’s other venture, Worldcoin, focuses on providing UBI through the use of a cryptocurrency token that is offered free of charge to individuals who sign up for the service and undergo a retinal scan for identity verification.
Both Hinton and Altman, in addition to their support for UBI as a means to protect individuals from job displacement caused by AI, have also expressed concerns about the potential existential threat AI poses to humanity.
Hinton reportedly left his position at Google to be able to openly discuss his concerns regarding the impact of AI on the future of our species. Altman, on the other hand, co-founded OpenAI with Elon Musk and others specifically to ensure the cautious and beneficial development of advanced AI systems.
During his recent interview with the BBC, Hinton warned that we may only have a few years before the threat becomes imminent.