AI godfather Geoffrey Hinton says layoffs are now inevitable unless you have this job

India Today

18-06-2025

In a world where artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping industries, one of its founding fathers is sounding the alarm about the future of work spaces. Geoffrey Hinton, the British-Canadian computer scientist famously dubbed the 'Godfather of AI,' is in the headlines again, and this time he is placing his bets on an unexpected career path: Plumbing. Having played a crucial role in developing the neural networks behind today's AI systems, Hinton said that he is worried about job security after automation has entered the picture.advertisementIn a candid appearance on The Diary of a CEO podcast hosted by Steven Bartlett, Hinton painted a picture of a future that's equal parts fascinating and unsettling. His advice for those worried about job security? Skip the coding bootcamp and consider becoming a plumber. "A good bet would be to be a plumber," Hinton said, explaining that physical tasks remain one of the last strongholds against automation. 'It's going to be a long time before [AI is] as good at physical manipulation as us.'While AI can churn through legal contracts, predict case outcomes, and generate marketing copy in seconds, it can't crawl under a sink or fumble with a spanner. Plumbing, like many other trades, demands hands-on skill, quick thinking, and a willingness to get dirty, none of which comes naturally to a machine.Manual labour over office workadvertisement
Jobs involving manual labour, think plumbing, carpentry, and electrical work, are proving much trickier to automate than office roles. Fixing a leaking tap or rewiring a house involves physical judgement in unpredictable environments, something AI still struggles with. That's why Hinton sees these roles as relatively safe, for now. In contrast, he warns that white-collar roles that involve data handling, or repetitive intellectual tasks are squarely in the AI firing line.'In a society which shared out things fairly, everybody should be better off,' Hinton remarked. 'But if you can replace lots of people by AIs, then the people who get replaced will be worse off," he added.Jobs like legal assistants and paralegals, once considered steady job roles, are already being reshaped by generative AI. Language models can now sift through reams of legal documents and even draft case summaries with startling speed and accuracy, challenging the need for human support in these roles.Worrisome futureNow at 77, Hinton isn't just analysing trends, he's wrestling with the emotional weight of his legacy. He admitted he's still grappling with the long-term consequences of his work, especially when thinking about the world his children and grandchildren will inherit. 'Intellectually, you can see the threat,' he said. 'But it's very hard to come to terms with it emotionally.'advertisementIn one particularly chilling moment, Hinton imagined a future where AI could run power plants and other infrastructure with minimal human input. 'If AI ever decided to take over,' he mused, 'it would need people for a while to run the power stations, until it designed better analogue machines There are so many ways it could get rid of people, all of which would, of course, be very nasty.' He wasn't predicting doom, but he insisted the risk is real enough to take seriously.Beyond the question of who gets replaced, Hinton worries about who benefits. As AI boosts productivity and slashes costs, the spoils may not be shared equally. Those who own the technology stand to gain the most, while displaced workers may struggle to find their footing.It's not just a question of economics, it's a social reckoning in the making. And if we're not careful, Hinton warns, the technology meant to uplift humanity could end up deepening existing divides. So, while the robots may be coming for your spreadsheet, the humble tradesperson might just be sitting pretty. In the age of artificial intelligence, the safest job might just involve tightening a pipe, not typing on a keyboard.