Geoffrey Hinton, dubbed the “godfather of AI,” warns of existential risks from artificial intelligence and reveals that plumbing may be the only job safe from replacement by AI, while lawyers and accountants face the risk of being replaced in the near future.
Article contents:
- Introduction
- Hinton’s warning on AI risk
- Plumbing recommended as a safe profession
- Most vulnerable professions
- Elon Musk’s perspective
- Career advice for the future
- Conclusion
- FAQ
Introduction
The computer scientist who helped pioneer artificial intelligence has revealed the only job he recommends people pursue. Geoffrey Hinton, a former Google employee, is on a mission to raise awareness about the risks of AI—despite helping shape it into what we see today.
Dubbed the “godfather of AI,” the 77-year-old left his position at the search engine in 2023 in an effort to warn people about AI, which he believes poses a threat to humanity.
Hinton’s warning on AI risk
Hinton explained to Steven Bartlett on the “Diary of a CEO” podcast: “We must realize that this is an existential threat and we have to face the possibility that unless we do something soon, we are close to the end.”
If the cognitive psychologist is expressing concerns that AI could take over the world, we truly need to start preparing ourselves. And one way is by being selective about the jobs we take, apparently.
Plumbing recommended as a safe profession
When asked for his advice to people regarding their career prospects, AI godfather Hinton replied: “Right now, I’d say it’s going to be a long time before it gets as good at physical manipulation as we are, so a good bet would be to become a plumber.”
Bartlett then raised the question about the industries most at risk of being completely taken over by AI, noting that lawyers and accountants could soon be replaced. Hinton responded: “Yes, so I mentioned plumbers, I think plumbers are less at risk. Someone like a paralegal, an assistant lawyer—they won’t be needed for long.”
Most vulnerable professions
Hinton is not the only one fearing for the future of his “children and relatives,” as Elon Musk was also asked about AI development and the careers he recommends his children pursue. The Tesla CEO told CNBC after a lengthy 13-second pause: “Well, that’s a hard question to answer.”
“I would just say follow your heart in terms of what you find interesting or satisfying to do. I mean, if you think about it hard, frankly it can be frustrating and disheartening because I’ve put so much blood, sweat, and tears into building companies and then saying, wait, should I be doing this?”
Elon Musk’s perspective
Musk continued: “Ultimately AI can do all these things. To some extent I have to deliberately suspend disbelief in order to stay motivated, so I think I’ll just say work on things you find interesting, satisfying, and that contribute some good to the rest of society.”
This admission from one of the world’s most prominent tech pioneers reveals the depth of concern over the impact of AI on the future of work and traditional professions.
Career advice for the future
Based on expert analysis, professions that require complex manual skills and problem-solving in changing environments appear to be the safest. Plumbing, as AI godfather Hinton pointed out, requires a deep understanding of complex systems and the ability to adapt to unexpected situations.
Other professions that may enjoy relative protection include electricians, mechanics, and skilled artisans. These occupations combine technical knowledge with practical skills that are difficult for artificial intelligence to mimic at present.
Conclusion
The warnings from the “godfather of AI” deserve serious attention, especially since they come from someone who contributed to the development of these technologies. While the recommendation to go into plumbing might sound strange, it reflects an important truth: professions that require complex physical interaction with the real world will remain relatively protected from the coming wave of automation.
FAQ
1. Why does Geoffrey Hinton consider plumbing a safe profession?
Because it will take AI a very long time to become skilled at the complex physical manipulation required by plumbing.
2. What are the professions most vulnerable to replacement by AI?
Paralegals, accountants, and office jobs that rely on data processing and basic analysis.
3. What is Elon Musk’s advice for future careers?
He advises working on things that are interesting, satisfying, and contribute to serving society, rather than focusing solely on safety from replacement.
