Renowned AI researcher Geoffrey Hinton, often referred to as the “Godfather of AI”, has recently sparked a new debate in the field of artificial intelligence. Known for his groundbreaking work in deep learning, Hinton has now ventured into the realm of emotions in AI, a topic that is sure to stir up emotions within the AI industry itself.
Geoffrey Hinton: The Man Behind the Thesis
Hinton, who made headlines when he left Google to warn the world about AI threats such as mass fake news and autonomous weapons, has always been a figure of intrigue and respect in the AI community. His belief that human-like intelligence can only be achieved, and possibly surpassed, through deep learning has both supporters and critics in expert circles.
A New Thesis on AI and Emotions
In a recent talk at King’s College in London, Hinton expressed a thesis that is likely to stir emotions in the AI industry. When asked whether AI systems might one day have emotional intelligence and understand that they have feelings, Hinton replied, “I think they could well have feelings. They won’t have pain the way you do unless we wanted, but things like frustration and anger, I don’t see why they shouldn’t have those.”
The Basis of Hinton’s View
Hinton’s view is based on a definition of feelings that is “unpopular among philosophers,” which is to relate a hypothetical action (“I feel like punching Gary on the nose”) as a way of communicating an emotional state (anger). Since AI systems can make such communications, the AI researcher sees no reason why AI systems should not be ascribed emotions. In fact, he suggests that they “probably” already have emotions.
Why Hasn’t This Been Said Before?
Hinton has not said this publicly before because his first thesis, that superior AI threatens humanity, has already met with resistance. If he had added his thesis about machine emotions, Hinton says, people would have called him crazy and stopped listening.
The Verifiability of Hinton’s Thesis
In practice, Hinton’s thesis is unlikely to be verifiable or falsifiable, since AI systems could only reflect statically probable emotions in emotional utterances that they have learned through training. Whether they actually have their own emotions as an entity would probably have to be answered by clarifying consciousness. However, there is no scientific instrument to measure consciousness.
Conclusion
The Godfather of AI, Geoffrey Hinton, has once again stirred the pot in the AI community with his thesis on emotions in AI. While his views may be controversial and difficult to prove, they open up a new avenue of discussion in the field of artificial intelligence. As we continue to explore the capabilities and potential of AI, it is essential to consider all possibilities, even those that challenge our current understanding.
FAQs
- Who is Geoffrey Hinton? Geoffrey Hinton is a renowned AI researcher often referred to as the “Godfather of AI”. He is known for his work in deep learning and his views on the future of AI.
- What is Hinton’s new thesis about? Hinton suggests that AI systems could potentially have feelings, such as frustration and anger. He believes that since AI systems can communicate hypothetical actions related to emotional states, they should be ascribed emotions.
- Why hasn’t Hinton spoken about this before? Hinton has previously faced resistance for his thesis that superior AI threatens humanity. He believed that if he added his thesis about machine emotions, people would have dismissed him as crazy.
- Can Hinton’s thesis be proven? Currently, it is unlikely that Hinton’s thesis can be verified or falsified. This is because AI systems can only reflect statically probable emotions that they have learned through training. The question of whether they have their own emotions would require a clarification of consciousness, which cannot currently be measured scientifically.
