Hinton Warns AI Risks in Trump Technology Debate

Geoffrey Hinton, the computer scientist known as the Godfather of AI, criticized Donald Trump’s understanding of artificial intelligence and renewed warnings about advanced AI risks in an interview with The Guardian published October 13, 2026.

Hinton said he believes powerful AI systems could eventually escape human control and argued that governments should not rely only on companies to regulate the technology. He has estimated a 10% to 20% chance of AI contributing to human extinction in coming decades.

According to The Guardian, Hinton challenged Trump’s use of the term superintelligence and criticized the idea of industry self-regulation. He also said his warnings focus on risk rather than a precise prediction.

"I’m trying to convey that there is a really serious possibility of something happening. If, for example, you’re told there was a 10% possibility of a bus crashing, you wouldn’t get on the bus," said Geoffrey Hinton, computer scientist.

Hinton has become one of the leading AI critics after helping develop neural network technology that shaped modern AI systems. His earlier research at the University of Toronto helped drive advances in machine learning.

"We believed that if you could figure out how the brain learned, machines learned the same way, and you had enough compute power, they would do amazing things," said Geoffrey Hinton, computer scientist.

He also argued that past assumptions about AI capabilities have repeatedly changed as systems became more advanced.

"This used to be the domain of science fiction. You’re going to have AI agents and they’re gonna go rogue. Oh, come off it.

And they’ll go rogue and they’re going to learn how to communicate with each other, even though we didn’t think there was a way. Oh, come off it!" said Geoffrey Hinton, computer scientist.

"And when they figure this out, they’re going to have big emotional expressions like, ‘oh my God!’ Well, of course, they don’t really mean ‘oh my God’. They’re just parroting the words we use. They’re going to learn to sacrifice themselves for the common good!" said Geoffrey Hinton, computer scientist.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang rejected Hinton’s extinction estimate, saying the prediction lacked scientific support. Huang has argued that AI discussions should remain evidence-based.

"I love [him]. I hate his predictions … All of his predictions have been wrong. Enough predictions," said Jensen Huang, Nvidia CEO.

"That [figure] is not grounded on science, is not grounded on research. Just because it comes from a scientist doesn’t make it scientific. Those predictions are hurtful," said Jensen Huang, Nvidia CEO.

Hinton said the uncertainty surrounding AI risks is why he believes safeguards are necessary.

"Well, we lost that time. Let’s rerun the game," said Geoffrey Hinton, computer scientist.

His career includes the 2012 breakthrough in image recognition with his students, which led to wider adoption of neural networks by major technology companies.

"This paper has no place in a machine learning conference. It’s about neural networks," said a machine learning conference reviewer.

Hinton later reflected on the importance of foundational research behind major technological shifts.

"In the long run, huge new breakthroughs come from basic research," said Geoffrey Hinton, computer scientist.