# Geoffrey Hinton: it might turn out we were better off without AI - HackerByte page: - Original source: - Hacker News discussion: - Submitted to Hacker News: 2026-11-04T10:23:34.000Z Warning from a prominent figure about the potential negative impacts of AI. ## AI-generated summary AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton expresses profound concerns about the technology he helped create, suggesting humanity might have been better off without it. He warns of potential catastrophic incidents like financial or power system blackouts within the next year, and a significant societal breakdown due to uncontrolled AI development within a decade. Hinton criticizes AI leaders for prioritizing profit over safety and advocates for regulatory frameworks similar to drug safety agencies. ## Key points - Geoffrey Hinton believes humanity might have been better off without AI. - He warns of potential AI\-triggered blackouts of financial or power systems this year or next. - Within a decade, AI risks could lead to societal collapse or 'radical abundance'. - Hinton distrusts AI company leaders like Sam Altman, believing they prioritize profit over safety. - He advocates for regulatory oversight akin to the FDA for drugs, requiring rigorous evidence of AI's net benefit.