Geoffrey Hinton, the godfather of AI
UNFORGETTABLE SAGAS, SCOOPS AND SCANDALS
from Toronto Life’slong-form archives |
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Dear reader, At this point, you practically need an algorithm to keep track of Geoffrey Hinton’s many accolades: the godfather of artificial intelligence, a former vice-president and engineering fellow at Google, one of Time’s 100 people of the year, a University of Toronto computer science professor, and—even closer to home—this magazine’s pick for the most influential Torontonian of 2023. On Tuesday, Hinton received his most prestigious honour to date: the Nobel Prize in physics, in recognition of his world-altering contributions to the field of machine learning. Hinton was characteristically humble about the award, telling reporters from a “cheap hotel in California” that he was “flabbergasted” to learn the news. For all his trailblazing, Hinton barely gives a second thought to titles or acclaim. His brazenness became apparent last year, when he resigned from Google and warned the world about the existential threat AI poses to humanity. Hinton spoke with Toronto Life writer Luc Rinaldi in the aftermath of sounding the alarm on his life’s work. “I don’t really care about my legacy,” he said. “The best thing you can do with a good reputation is squander it, because you can’t take it with you when you’re dead.” For more great long-reads from Toronto Life, subscribe to our print edition here. |
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| —Madi Haslam, digital editor |
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Geoffrey Hinton spent half a century developing artificial intelligence. Now, he worries that his life’s work could spell the end of humanity. Inside his mission to warn the world |
BY LUC RINALDI | NOVEMBER 16, 2023 |
On May 2, 2023, Geoffrey Hinton appeared on the front page of the New York Times announcing that he was stepping down from his job at Google and warning the world about the existential threat of artificial intelligence. Was he the first to prophecy the AI apocalypse? No. But most doomsayers have been dismissed as alarmist scaremongers. Hinton, on the other hand, is the world’s leading authority on AI and the so-called godfather of the technology. When he speaks, everyone pays attention. |
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