The Godfather of AI has declared that most tech leaders are dangerously downplaying the risks of artificial intelligence, with only one exception—leaving Americans to wonder just how far Big Tech’s reckless ambitions will go before someone finally slams on the brakes.
At a Glance
- Geoffrey Hinton, revered as the “Godfather of AI,” warns that most tech leaders are minimizing the existential risks posed by artificial intelligence.
- Hinton claims only Demis Hassabis of Google DeepMind takes the dangers seriously and is pushing for real regulation.
- Big Tech’s rapid AI expansion continues despite mounting protests and calls for government oversight.
- Experts argue unchecked AI could threaten everything from jobs to national security, while corporate “oligarchs” put profit and power first.
AI’s Godfather Blasts Tech “Oligarchs” for Downplaying Catastrophic Risks
Geoffrey Hinton, the scientist whose breakthroughs made today’s AI possible, is sounding the alarm—and he’s not mincing words. After leaving Google in 2023 to speak freely, Hinton now says the risk that superintelligent AI could wipe out humanity sits at a chilling 10–20 percent. He’s not shy about where the blame lies. According to Hinton, most tech leaders—think Zuckerberg, Musk, Altman, and the rest of the Silicon Valley club—are publicly brushing off these risks, preferring to protect their empires and stock portfolios than be honest with the public.
This is Scary
In 2015, he warned that AI would learn faster than humans.
In 2018, he predicted it could develop its own goals.
In 2022, he said we might not be able to stop it (AGI).Now Geoffrey Hinton the “Godfather of AI” has left Google to speak freely.
Here are his 7… pic.twitter.com/kvfFcN3l5m
— ZOYA ✪ (@HeyZoyaKhan) June 18, 2025
Hinton points to Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind, as the rare exception. Hassabis, unlike his peers, openly admits AI’s dangers and has called for an international governing body to keep AI in check. Hinton’s words couldn’t be clearer: “Many of the people in big companies, I think, are downplaying the risk publicly.” He describes the concentration of power in Silicon Valley as “oligarchic,” likening Big Tech’s grip on AI to a handful of unelected billionaires deciding the future of humanity. Meanwhile, everyday Americans are left out of the conversation, and the risks keep escalating.
Watch: “Godfather of AI” Geoffrey Hinton warns there are two sets of danger with AI
Big Tech’s AI Gold Rush: Power, Profits, and Zero Accountability
Hinton’s departure from Google wasn’t just a career move—it was a protest. The man who built the foundation of modern AI watched as his own life’s work morphed into a runaway train that no one seems able or willing to stop. Since 2020, AI’s capabilities have exploded, with companies racing to deploy ever more powerful systems that can operate autonomously, manipulate information, and potentially defy human control. The likes of Google, OpenAI, Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon dominate the sector, holding all the cards and making all the rules.
This unchecked power has triggered a backlash. In June 2025, protesters gathered outside DeepMind’s London office, demanding transparency and warning that earlier safety promises have gone unfulfilled. The AI debate, once focused on innovation and convenience, has shifted sharply toward existential risk. Hassabis, to his credit, publicly acknowledged that “AI poses long-term risks” and that autonomous systems could spiral “out of control.”
Americans Left Holding the Bag: Jobs, Security, and the “Oligarch” Playbook
For conservatives and anyone with a shred of common sense, the story here is painfully familiar. Once again, the big corporations and their media cheerleaders are busy pushing a radical agenda, flooding the country with technologies that upend everyday life, all while shutting out the voices of ordinary Americans. The calls for regulation and oversight grow louder, but the tech oligarchs keep marching forward, confident that their money and influence will keep them above the law. The Constitution, the rights of citizens, even the basic safety of our families—these are just casualties in their race for power. When the so-called “experts” who built the system say it’s time to hit the brakes, maybe, just maybe, it’s time to listen.
