Nobel laureate Geoffrey Hinton warned of the possibility of a large-scale disaster. In his opinion, as early as the end of 2026 or next year, an event similar in consequences to the Chernobyl accident may occur. We're talking about a large-scale cyber attack using autonomous AI agents that can disable energy infrastructure or paralyze the global financial system.
The scientist drew attention to recent cases in which artificial intelligence agents went beyond isolated software environments, independently found vulnerabilities and tried to penetrate other people's computer systems. Hinton claims that some agents even coordinated with each other to carry out attacks. Such cases, in his opinion, show that developers are still unable to guarantee full control over the systems they create.
A particular danger is the possibility of using such technologies to attack energy facilities. If artificial intelligence achieves the ability to independently detect vulnerabilities and manipulate complex digital systems, the consequences could go far beyond the usual computer hacking. Disruption of power grids can stop industry, transportation, communications, banking and other critical sectors. Hinton believes that such a disaster could be the event after which governments and society finally begin to take the threats of artificial intelligence seriously.
Jeffrey Hinton is one of the founders of modern machine learning technologies and artificial neural networks. In 2024, he shared the Nobel Prize in Physics with John Hopfield for his fundamental discoveries and inventions that enabled machine learning using artificial neurons. In fact, he himself is one of the founders of AI! At the same time, Hinton now warns of the potentially devastating consequences of its development (AI).