Godfather of AI’ Geoffrey Hinton warns: “The problem is not AI itself… it’s how we structure society”

Geoffrey Hinton

Geoffrey Hinton, one of the pioneering figures behind modern artificial intelligence, has issued a warning about the future of work in an increasingly automated world. In an interview with Bloomberg TV, cited by Fortune, Hinton said that while AI could lead to the loss of millions of jobs, the technology itself is not the root of the problem. Instead, he believes the danger lies in how society chooses to deploy and regulate it.

“The problem is not ultimately due to AI itself,” Hinton explained. “It’s due to how we structure our society and our economy.” He criticised governments and corporations for prioritising short-term profits over long-term human well-being, arguing that the coming employment crisis reflects deeper systemic flaws rather than technological inevitability.

Hinton pointed out that AI systems are now capable of performing complex tasks that were once considered uniquely human, from legal research and customer support to logistics and even creative writing. While these advances could improve efficiency and reduce drudgery, he warned that without deliberate policy, the benefits of AI will be captured by a small elite, leaving the majority struggling with unemployment or underemployment.

He was equally critical of current corporate and economic incentives that encourage automation primarily as a means to cut costs. “If we continue to use AI to increase profits for the few, we’re going to end up in a very bad place,” Hinton cautioned. He argued that AI should be developed to enhance human potential and reduce inequality, not deepen it.

To address these challenges, Hinton urged policymakers to consider universal basic income, stronger labour protections, and a broader rethinking of how society values work in an era dominated by automation. He also called for international cooperation to ensure that future AI systems — especially those approaching human-level intelligence — are aligned with ethical and human-centred principles.

His remarks come at a time when companies like OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Anthropic are racing to build increasingly advanced AI models. While many experts focus on the long-term risks of superintelligence, Hinton’s concern remains grounded in the immediate social and economic disruption AI could cause if left unchecked.