What Hinton did in 2012 was to build a system that could analyse thousands of images and accurately identify objects like flowers and cars. This innovation used a technique called neural networks, which has become fundamental to technologies like self-driving cars and the current explosion of generative AI.

However, what’s ironic is that Hinton quit his job at Google in May 2023 so that he can warn people about the dangers of the very technology he helped develop and promote — for which he has now been awarded the Nobel Prize.

In a rather candid interview with The New York Times last year, Hinton remarked that Google had been a “proper steward” of the technology, exercising caution to ensure that nothing potentially harmful saw the light of day. But that changed after the release of ChatGPT by OpenAI in 2022.

Hinton claimed that in a frenzied bid to reclaim its AI dominance, Google raced to roll out similar technology. This relentless competition among tech giants may well be an unstoppable force, he had said then. A year later, this still holds true.

“I console myself with the normal excuse: if I hadn’t done it, somebody else would have,” he told NYT, adding that he “regrets his life’s work”.

From A Champion Of AI To A Critic

On the one hand, we’re excited about Hinton’s groundbreaking work in machine learning and the amazing potential of generative AI to change our lives for the better. But as we explore this exciting new world, we can’t ignore the darker side of technology. 

In his shift from being an AI optimist to an AI doomsday prophet, he has become actively involved in raising awareness about AI risks, including signing the Center for AI Safety’s Statement on AI Risk, which emphasises that the potential extinction of humanity due to AI should be treated as a critical global priority.

In October 2023, Hinton, along with other AI scientists, released a paper calling on governments to take action to manage risks from AI. The paper outlined extreme risks posed by advanced AI and offered a comprehensive plan that combines technical research with adaptive governance to ensure better preparation for these challenges.

He even recently extended his support to SB 1047, a Californian AI regulation that hoped to ensure that AI systems are used transparently, ethically and in a manner that protects civil rights. However, the Bill got vetoed after passing through the Senate.

In fact, while discussing his Nobel Prize with the University of Toronto, where he still teaches, Hinton made a rather pointed remark. Referring to former OpenAI chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, Hinton said he’s proud that one of his students — Sutskever — had fired Sam Altman from OpenAI last year (before he was reinstated).

“Over time it turned out that Sam Altman was much less concerned with safety than with profits, and I think that's unfortunate,” he added in a statement.

This comes just shy of the first anniversary of Altman's astonishing but ultimately futile ousting, and also the second anniversary of ChatGPT's grand debut at the end of November 2022.

So, here we find ourselves, teetering on the edge of something amazing yet dangerous. Hinton's evolution from an AI pioneer to a cautionary voice serves as a reminder that while technological advancement can fetch a great ‘Prize’, it can also come with a heavy price.

Just like US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger's Peace Prize in 1973 came with its own controversies — two members resigned from the Nobel Committee in protest, while Kissinger's joint recipient, Le Duc Tho, refused the award — Hinton’s achievements alert us to the ethical challenges and difficult questions his innovations might bring.

We must ask ourselves: can we celebrate the Prize without acknowledging the implications of its legacy?