AI regulation 'a start,' needs to 'have teeth': Hinton, godfather of AI, says

So-called godfather of AI Geoffrey Hinton says he's 'pleased' governments are starting to take artificial intelligence, and the possible regulations of it, seriously.

So-called godfather of AI Geoffrey Hinton says he's "pleased" governments are starting to take artificial intelligence, and the possible regulations of it, seriously.

"There is a lot of interest in government about what regulations could be used to make it safer," Hinton said on CTV News Channel's Power Play with Vassy Kapelos on Thursday. "Unfortunately, it's a very difficult problem, it's not like fixing a roof, it's difficult to make it safe."

Halting AI development while governments catch up, however, is likely unrealistic, Hinton said.

The world-renowned academic said regulation of the technology is "a start," but it needs to "have teeth."

"I think the big companies should be required to put a lot of work into investigating how these things might try and escape control before they're more intelligent than us," he said.

Hinton's interview comes as many are calling on Premier Doug Ford's government to keep the Ontario Science Centre open, after it was recently abruptly closed due to structural problems with the building's roof.

The repairs would cost millions of dollars, according to Ford, while Hinton has committed $1 million of his own funds to the repairs.