Yoshua Bengio, one of the leading pioneers of artificial intelligence, has issued a stark warning—not about AI itself, but about the intentions of those who wield control over it. Speaking to CNBC and during the One Young World Summit in Montreal, the Canadian computer scientist expressed concerns over the potential misuse of AI by a select few elite tech leaders.
Bengio, often referred to as one of the “Godfathers of AI,” has been vocal about the ethical implications of AI. He was also a signatory of the “Right to Warn” open letter penned by researchers at OpenAI, which highlighted the dangers posed by AI while noting that industry pressures often silence warnings.
“Intelligence gives power,” Bengio stated. “So who’s going to control that power? There are people who might want to abuse that power, and there are people who might be happy to see humanity replaced by machines.”
A Small but Dangerous Fringe
Bengio cautioned that while the group of individuals aiming to use AI to supplant humanity is small, they could amass significant power if left unchecked. “I mean, it’s a fringe, but these people can have a lot of power, and they can do it unless we put the right guardrails in place right now.”
He further explained that unchecked advancements in AI could lead to an unhealthy concentration of power. “There’s going to be a concentration of power: economic power, which can be bad for markets; political power, which could be bad for democracy; and military power, which could be bad for the geopolitical stability of our planet,” he warned.
Urgent Need for Global AI Policies
Bengio called on world leaders to establish robust global policies to govern AI development and mitigate its risks. He emphasized that humanity may not have much time to act before AI systems surpass human intelligence, creating potentially irreversible consequences.
“If it’s five years, we’re not ready,” he said. “We don’t have methods to make sure that these systems will not harm people or will not turn against people.”
Bengio’s concerns echo those of other AI experts who have called for proactive regulation while AI development remains manageable. His warnings underscore the urgent need for international cooperation and ethical frameworks to ensure AI benefits society rather than becoming a tool for harm.
As the race to develop advanced AI systems accelerates, questions about control, accountability, and the role of humanity in a world increasingly shaped by machines remain at the forefront of global discussions.