Artificial intelligence is transforming industries at a rapid pace, and concerns about AI unemployment are growing louder. Nobel laureate Geoffrey Hinton, often called the “Godfather of AI,” has warned that the technology will not only reshape how companies operate but also threaten millions of jobs, while sending corporate profits soaring.
AI and the Future of Work
Hinton believes that corporations will increasingly use AI to replace workers, particularly in roles involving repetitive or routine tasks. “What’s going to happen is that wealthy companies will use AI to cut costs,” he said. “This will drive massive unemployment while profits skyrocket. A few people will become far richer, while many others will struggle. That’s not AI’s fault—it’s capitalism.”
Although large-scale layoffs haven’t hit yet, early signs are emerging. Studies indicate that AI adoption is reducing opportunities, especially for recent graduates entering the job market. A survey by the New York Federal Reserve found that while many firms retrain employees instead of firing them, job displacement is expected to rise in the near future.
Which Jobs Are Safe?
Not every sector faces the same risks. According to Hinton, healthcare may benefit rather than suffer from AI integration. He explained that increasing doctors’ efficiency could dramatically expand access to care. “There’s no limit to how much health care people can use if it’s affordable,” he said, highlighting how AI could become a force for good in medicine.
However, he stressed that many entry-level or low-skill jobs are vulnerable. Meanwhile, professions requiring complex skills, creativity, or a high degree of human judgment may be more resilient.
Universal Basic Income? Not Enough
As AI reshapes economies, ideas like universal basic income (UBI) have resurfaced as potential solutions. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has supported the concept, but Hinton disagrees. He argues that simply providing financial support won’t address the human need for dignity, purpose, and meaning that many people derive from their work.
Existential Risks of AI
Beyond job markets, Hinton has repeatedly warned about the larger dangers of unchecked AI. He estimates there’s a 10% to 20% chance advanced AI systems could eventually threaten humanity’s survival. From potential misuse in bioweapon creation to manipulation by malicious actors, the risks, he says, are real and demand greater regulation.
Interestingly, he noted that while U.S. policymakers, particularly under the Trump administration, resisted strict oversight, countries like China appear more proactive in addressing AI’s potential threats.
Life After Google
Hinton left Google in 2023, though not for the reasons many assumed. While media reports claimed he wanted the freedom to speak about AI risks, the 77-year-old insists it was simply time to retire. “I’d worked for 55 years and couldn’t program as well anymore,” he said. “And honestly, I had a lot of Netflix to catch up on.”
Despite his retirement, Hinton still uses AI tools in his personal life. He revealed that OpenAI’s ChatGPT is his go-to platform, often using it for research. Amusingly, he shared that an ex-partner once used the chatbot to write a scathing critique of his behavior during their breakup—a moment he recalls with humor.
A Turning Point in History
For Hinton, AI represents both extraordinary promise and grave uncertainty. “We are at a point in history where something remarkable is happening,” he said. “It may be amazingly good, or it may be dangerously bad. We simply don’t know yet.”
As governments, businesses, and communities grapple with the opportunities and threats AI brings, Hinton’s perspective offers a sobering reminder: the future of artificial intelligence will depend not only on the technology itself but on the systems and values that shape how it’s used.
