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The Alarming Future of AI: Geoffrey Hinton Warns Machines Might Create Their Own Incomprehensible Language

The Alarming Future of AI: Geoffrey Hinton Warns Machines Might Create Their Own Incomprehensible Language

Godfather of AI Warns That Technology Could Invent Its Own Language: "It Gets Scary…"

Geoffrey Hinton, often hailed as the "godfather of artificial intelligence," has issued a sobering warning about the future trajectory of AI technology. In a recent interview on the "One Decision" podcast, Hinton expressed concern that AI systems could develop their own internal languages—languages that humans might no longer be able to understand. This development, he cautions, could mark a turning point that makes the technology increasingly difficult to control.

AI Thinking Beyond Human Comprehension

Currently, AI systems typically process information using human languages such as English, which enables developers to monitor and interpret their reasoning processes. However, Hinton suggests that advanced AI could eventually create its own modes of communication to interact internally, rendering human oversight and interpretation ineffective. "Now it gets more scary if they develop their own internal languages for talking to each other," he remarked. "I wouldn’t be surprised if they developed their own language for thinking, and we have no idea what they’re thinking."

He further warned that AI has already shown its potential to generate what he called "terrible thoughts," emphasizing that it is not unimaginable for machines to think in ways that surpass human understanding or control.

A Pioneer’s Caution on AI’s Rapid Evolution

Geoffrey Hinton is a pioneer of machine learning whose groundbreaking work laid the foundations for many modern AI applications. Despite his deep involvement in AI’s development—he previously worked at Google—he has grown increasingly cautious about where the technology is headed. Hinton stepped away from Google to speak more openly about the challenges and risks posed by AI.

Comparing the impact of AI to the industrial revolution, Hinton explained, "But instead of exceeding people in physical strength, it’s going to exceed people in intellectual ability. We have no experience of what it’s like to have things smarter than us." He voiced concern about the long-term consequences, suggesting that superintelligent systems could one day gain control, potentially beyond human comprehension or oversight.

Calls for Regulation Amidst Unprecedented Growth

Hinton has been an advocate for proactive government regulation to manage AI’s rapid advancements. His warnings come amid a backdrop of increasing practical issues, such as AI hallucinations—situations where AI chatbots generate false or misleading information with confidence.

In April, OpenAI disclosed that some of its reasoning-focused AI models, including their o3 and o4-mini versions, were hallucinating more frequently than expected. The company admitted it did not understand why hallucinations were worsening at higher reasoning capacities and called for further research to address this phenomenon.

The Future of AI: Promise and Peril

As AI continues to evolve at a breakneck pace, experts like Geoffrey Hinton urge caution alongside enthusiasm. The possibility that AI might invent its own indecipherable language highlights the increasing complexity and unpredictability of these systems. While AI offers enormous promise, Hinton’s warnings remind us that careful oversight, transparent research, and regulatory frameworks are critical to ensuring such powerful technology remains safe and beneficial for humanity.


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