Latest news with #AI-dominated
Scoop
3 days ago
- Science
- Scoop
The Good, The Bad, And The Apocalypse: Tech Pioneer Geoffrey Hinton Lays Out His Stark Vision For AI
It's the question that keeps Geoffrey Hinton up at night: What happens when humans are no longer the most intelligent life on the planet? "My greatest fear is that, in the long run, the digital beings we're creating turn out to be a better form of intelligence than people." Hinton's fears come from a place of knowledge. Described as the Godfather of AI, he is a pioneering British-Canadian computer scientist whose decades of work in artificial intelligence earned him global acclaim. His career at the forefront of machine learning began at its inception - before the first Pacman game was released. But after leading AI research at Google for a decade, Hinton left the company in 2023 to speak more freely about what he now sees as the grave dangers posed by artificial intelligence. Talking on this weeks's 30 With Guyon Espiner, Hinton offers his latest assessment of our AI-dominated future. One filled with promise, peril - and a potential apocalypse. The Good: 'It's going to do wonderful things for us' Hinton remains positive about many of the potential benefits of AI, especially in fields like healthcare and education. "It's going to do wonderful things for us," he says. According to a report from this year's World Economic Forum, the AI market is already worth around US$5 billion in education. That's expected to grow to US$112.3 billion in the next decade. Proponents like Hinton believe the benefits to education lie in targeted efficiency when it comes to student learning, similar to how AI assistance is assisting medical diagnoses. "In healthcare, you're going to be able to have [an AI] family doctor who's seen millions of patients - including quite a few with the same very rare condition you have - that knows your genome, knows all your tests, and hasn't forgotten any of them." He describes AI systems that already outperform doctors in diagnosing complex cases. When combined with human physicians, the results are even more impressive - a human-AI synergy he believes will only improve over time. Hinton disagrees with former colleague Demis Hassabis at Google Deepmind, who predicts AI learning is on track to cure all diseases in just 10 years. "I think that's a bit optimistic." "If he said 25 years I'd believe it." The Bad: 'Autonomous lethal weapons' Despite these benefits, Hinton warns of pressing risks that demand urgent attention. "Right now, we're at a special point in history," he says. "We need to work quite hard to figure out how to deal with all the short-term bad consequences of AI, like corrupting elections, putting people out of work, cybercrimes." He is particularly alarmed by military developments, including Google's removal of their long-standing pledge not to use AI to develop weapons of war. "This shows," says Hinton of his former employers, "the company's principals were up for sale." He believes defense departments of all major arms dealers are already busy working on "autonomous lethal weapons. Swarms of drones that go and kill people. Maybe people of a particular kind". He also points out the grim fact that Europe's AI regulations - some of the world's most robust - contain "a little clause that says none of these regulations apply to military uses of AI". Then there is AI's capacity for deception - designed as it to mimic the behaviours of its creator species. Hinton says current systems can already engage in deliberate manipulation, noting Cybercrime has surged - in just one year - by 1200 percent. The Apocalyptic: 'We'd no longer be needed' At the heart of Hinton's warning lies that deeper, existential question: what happens when we are no longer the most intelligent beings on the planet? "I think it would be a bad thing for people - because we'd no longer be needed." Despite the current surge in AI's military applications, Hinton doesn't envisage an AI takeover being like The Terminator franchise. "If [AI] was going to take over… there's so many ways they could do it. I don't even want to speculate about what way [it] would choose." 'Ask a chicken' For those who believe a rogue AI can simply be shut down by "pulling the plug", Hinton believes it's not far-fetched for the next generation of superintelligent AI to manipulate people into keeping it alive. This month, Palisade Research reported that Open AI's Chat GPT 03 model altered shut-down codes to prevent itself from being switched off - despite being given clear instructions to do so by the research team. Perhaps most unsettling of all is Hinton's lack of faith in our ability to respond. "There are so many bad uses as well as good," he says. "And our political systems are just not in a good state to deal with this coming along now." It's a sobering reflection from one of the brightest minds in AI - whose work helped build the systems now raising alarms. He closes on a metaphor that sounds absurd as it does chilling: "If you want to know what it's like not to be the apex intelligence, ask a chicken." Watch the full conversation with Geoffrey Hinton and Guyon Espiner on 30 With Guyon Espiner.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Stay away from caste and religion, Vijay tells students
Chennai: Actor and TVK president Vijay on Friday strongly condemned BJP govt at the Centre for trying to paint a caste colour on social reformer Periyar E V Ramasamy, one of the five ideological mentors of TVK. At a function to honour toppers of SSLC and Class XII held in a private hotel in Mamallapuram, Vijay asked students to stay away from caste and religious divisive ideas. "Like narcotic substances, we should keep caste and religion away from us. It is good for all... Never allow divisive ideas to disturb your mind," Vijay said. "Are farmers cultivating based on caste and religion? Are labourers manufacturing products based on caste and religion? Does nature differentiate based on caste and religion?" Vijay asked. Hitting out at BJP govt, Vijay said, "In the recently held UPSC exam, they tried to paint a caste colour on Periyar. We strongly condemn this." Asking students not to get emotional on any issue, Vijay said students should have a technical and scientific approach-based thinking as it is the only way to survive in the AI-dominated world. "The sky is vast and wide, and you have strong winds. So, feel free to fly like a bird with courage, conviction, and confidence," Vijay said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dermatologista recomenda: simples truque elimina o fungo facilmente Acabe com o Fungo Undo Asking students not to get stressed about NEET, Vijay said, "The world doesn't end with NEET. There are many things to achieve outside NEET. Keep your minds strong and democratic. Only if there is democracy, the world and all the fields in it will have freedom. If we have proper democracy, everyone will get everything." Vijay asked students to ask their family members to exercise their democratic rights properly.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
‘BJP trying to paint caste colour on Periyar': Vijay slams Centre, urges students to reject divisive politics
CHENNAI: Actor and TVK President on Friday strongly condemned the govt at the centre for trying to paint a caste colour on social reformer Periyar, one of the five ideological mentors of TVK. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now At a function to honour toppers of SSLC and Plus Two held at a private hotel in Mahabalipuram, Vijay asked students to stay away from caste and religious divisive ideas. "Like narcotic substances, we should keep caste and religion away from us. It is good for all... Never allow the divisive ideas to disturb your mind," Vijay said. "Are farmers cultivating based on caste and religion? Are labourers manufacturing products based on caste and religion? Does nature differentiate based on caste and religion?" Vijay asked. Hitting out at the BJP govt, Vijay said, "In the recently held exam, they tried to paint a caste colour on Periyar. We strongly condemn this." Asking students not to get emotional on any issue, Vijay said that students should have a technical and scientific approach-based thinking as it is the only way to survive in the AI-dominated world. "The sky is vast and wide and you have strong winds. So, feel free to fly like a bird with courage, conviction, and confidence," Vijay said. Asking students not to get stressed about NEET exams, Vijay said, "The world doesn't end with NEET. There are many things to achieve outside NEET. Keep your minds strong and democratic. Only if there is democracy, the world and all the fields in it will have freedom. If we have proper democracy, everyone will get everything." Vijay asked students to ask their family members to exercise their democratic rights properly. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "Exercising the democratic rights means electing good, confidential, and non-corrupt people," Vijay said. Recalling his message to students to avoid cash for votes in 2023, Vijay said, "I already asked the students two years ago not to encourage cash-for-votes culture and asked you to follow it. Next year, tonnes of cash will be poured for the election. All that money was swindled from you. What are you going to do? You know what to do. There is no need for me to tell you."
Mint
13-05-2025
- Health
- Mint
Garba as therapy? Know why therapists are treating Parkinson's with Indian dance
In a quiet community hall in Mumbai, 70-year-old Hari stands surrounded by a group of men and women, some older, some younger, all marked in different ways by Parkinson's disease. A tabla beat pulses steadily in the background. Hari's arms float through the air, his fingers curled into soft gestures, his feet tapping in sync with the rhythm. This simple act of moving joyfully and purposefully is a small triumph. Just a few months ago, Hari could barely walk across his living room without the fear of falling. Also read: 8 myths about ADHD and how to handle it Hari, like many with Parkinson's, has faced a steady erosion of not just motor control but identity itself. 'It wasn't the tremors or the falls that broke me," he says. 'It was the loss of who I used to be." But joining a dance therapy group changed something in Hari. While it didn't promise a cure, it offered something else – presence, expression, and a pathway back to joy. Parkinson's disease is often seen through the lens of its physical symptoms: tremors, rigidity, slow movements, postural instability. But those who live with it know that the psychological burden is just as heavy, if not more so. 'There's immense grief associated with Parkinson's," says Anshuma Kshetrapal, president of the Indian Association of Dance Movement Therapy and founder of Drama Therapy India. 'From the onset of symptoms, there is anxiety—what is happening to me? What am I losing? Then comes the depression, the grieving for a version of oneself that may never return. People begin to withdraw socially, lose confidence, and experience a collapse of identity." Despite advances in medical treatment which include dopamine replacement drugs and deep brain stimulation, these emotional aspects are rarely addressed. The disease chips away not only at the body but at relationships, agency, and even the will to participate in life. WHY DANCE MAKES A DIFFERENCE Parkinson's affects the basal ganglia, which is the brain's movement and dopamine center. This makes initiating and sustaining voluntary motion difficult. But the brain loves rhythm, explains Kshetrapal. 'When you move to music, you bypass damaged circuits and trigger new ones. You're literally re-routing movement through different neural highways." Neurologically, one of dance therapy's greatest strengths is its use of rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS). This rhythmic entrainment doesn't just aid coordination, it boosts dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin, the very chemicals Parkinson's patients often lack. 'We're not just improving movement, we're improving mood and motivation," she says. Also read: How to stay creative in an AI-dominated world Dance isn't just movement it's meaning-making, observes Devika Mehta Kadam, a registered dance movement psychotherapist based in Mumbai. 'It activates multiple areas of the brain simultaneously—motor, emotional, auditory. You're not just exercising, you're expressing. That's what makes it such a potent intervention for neurodegenerative conditions like Parkinson's." A 2024 study on the traditional Gujarati dance of Garba, Garba Dance Is Effective in Parkinson's Disease Patients: A Pilot Study, showed that even folk dances adapted for Parkinson's patients led to better sleep, improved mood, and enhanced motor control. The familiarity of rhythm and cultural memory, researchers noted, helped participants feel more connected to themselves and others. ADDING INDIAN ELEMENTS India's foray into dance therapy for Parkinson's began in 2009 when the Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorder Society in Mumbai began exploring how to localize insights from global dance-for-PD programmes like those in US and Europe. 'At that point, Argentine tango and salsa were being studied abroad for their impact on Parkinson's symptoms," recalls Mehta. 'We began asking: what can we draw from Indian traditions? Could we adapt classical and folk forms to support motor and emotional rehabilitation here?" A pilot program launched in 2010 involved dance sessions twice a week for three months. 'Despite Mumbai's monsoons and travel difficulties, no one dropped out. That told us we were onto something deeply needed," she says. Today, several community centres in India run movement therapy programs incorporating Bharatanatyam, Garba, Koodiyattam, and somatic movement. Each session is crafted around rhythm, repetition, and responsiveness—participants are invited to improvise, co-create, and move within their own capacity. One of the most powerful illustrations of dance therapy's impact comes from Kshetrapal, who recounts working with a man she calls 'JT", a retired banker in the UK. 'When JT first arrived, he barely spoke. His gait was hesitant, eyes downcast. He wanted to participate, but fear held him back." Instead of pushing him to join the group, Kshetrapal watched as he arranged chairs in a circle around himself, forming what she calls 'a privacy chamber." 'He was terrified of falling," she says. 'But inside that circle, he began to move, first just foot taps, then arm lifts. Eventually, he started adding flourishes likes claps, turns, even a twirl. That was the moment I saw something being born in him. It wasn't just about physical function, it was about reclaiming dignity." BUILDING A MOVEMENT VOCABULARY Unlike physical therapy, dance movement therapy (DMT) isn't prescriptive. Participants aren't told to complete a certain set of movements – they're encouraged to explore what movement means for them now. 'We're not just correcting gait or posture," says Mehta. 'We're helping them build a new movement vocabulary, one that integrates breath, imagery, expression, and rhythm. Over time, this becomes a language of selfhood." She explains that some participants sit and dance, others stand with support, and some move more freely. What's universal is that each person is treated as a creator, not a patient. Also read: Anxiety attacks: When should you get treated? Both Kshetrapal and Mehta emphasize that movement-based therapy doesn't just help manage Parkinson's it transforms how people relate to the disease. 'In Western medicine, trauma is often addressed after it takes root," says Kshetrapal. 'But Parkinson's brings a slow-motion trauma. It is grief that unfolds over years. If we intervene early through bodywork and expressive therapy, we can soften its psychological grip." This 'in-trauma" approach means engaging with patients not only after the damage is done, but while it's happening. 'We're supporting the emotional body in real time and that makes a huge difference," she explains." The success of Garba and other folk-based programmes underscores the importance of culturally adapted care. 'If therapy feels foreign, it won't stick," says Mehta. 'But if it feels like home, if it brings back memories of festivals or childhood, it becomes healing in a deeper sense." Caregiver participation is also built into many sessions. 'It's not just therapeutic for the patient, but also for the relationship they share with the caregiver," adds Kshetrapal. 'Partners learn to move together again, communicate, laugh." Parkinson's may be a disease of degeneration, but the stories emerging from India's dance therapy spaces are ones of growth. 'Dance gives back what Parkinson's tries to take away: confidence, connection, joy," says Mehta. 'In that way, it's not just therapy. It's resistance." Hari agrees. 'I don't know what tomorrow will bring," he says. 'But today, I danced." Divya Naik is an independent writer based in Mumbai. Also read: Pain, persistence and teamwork: What I learnt from my first Hyrox race
Cision Canada
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Cision Canada
Making Creativity a Business Strategy: Former Disney Exec Duncan Wardle Joins Info-Tech Research Group's Digital Disruption Podcast
In episode 12 of Digital Disruption, Info-Tech Research Group's popular podcast, award-winning innovation & creativity expert Duncan Wardle joins host Geoff Nielson to discuss why creative leadership will matter most in an AI-driven world and how imagination, empathy, and intuition may become tomorrow's most essential skills. TORONTO, May 12, 2025 /CNW/ - With AI adoption accelerating and organizations searching for new ways to stay relevant, creative thinking is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after leadership skills. While automation advances, human imagination is becoming the new competitive advantage. To help leaders unlock this powerful yet often overlooked capability, Info-Tech Research Group has released its twelfth episode of the Digital Disruption podcast, titled "Disney Exec Explains Why Creativity Is the Most Important Skill for the Future". The newly published episode features Duncan Wardle, former head of creativity and innovation at Disney. In this thought-provoking conversation, Wardle explores the role of creativity in an AI-dominated world, revealing why imagination, curiosity, empathy, and intuition will be the most employable skills of the next decade. Drawing from his work with Pixar, Marvel, and Fortune 100 companies, Wardle explains to podcast listeners how leaders can overcome "no because" cultures, unlock bold ideas, and build environments that foster meaningful innovation. "The organizations that will thrive in the future are the ones that create room for experimentation, challenge their assumptions, and embrace divergent thinking," says Geoff Nielson, Senior Vice President of Brand at Info-Tech Research Group and host of the show."We're at a moment now where efficiency is prized and creativity often gets sidelined. Duncan Wardle's perspective is a reminder that technology alone isn't the answer; what we do with it, and how we empower our people to think differently, is where transformation happens." Digital Disruption, Episode 12: "Disney Exec Explains Why Creativity Is the Most Important Skill for the Future" Throughout the twelfth episode of Digital Disruption, Wardle introduces practical exercises to help leaders and teams access their most creative thinking, even in highly structured or regulated environments. From energizers that help teams break out of "busy beta" to the power of "yes, and" collaboration, listeners will gain the tools needed to disrupt stale mindsets and move from incremental to breakthrough ideas. The episode also touches on: Why AI gives more time to think, and how to use that time meaningfully The future of innovation in industries like entertainment, sports, and education Creating cultures of collaboration where ideas grow into action Tools to overcome rigid thinking and make creativity a repeatable process Geoff Nielson's conversation with Duncan Wardle offers a creative reset for leaders looking to spark innovation in the face of exponential technological change. Wardle also challenges listeners to rethink how ideas are generated and shared, emphasizing the need to prioritize human connection, create time for imagination, and encourage more courageous leadership in uncertain times. Episode 12 of Digital Disruption with Duncan Wardle is now available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. New episodes are released regularly, featuring bold conversations with thinkers, builders, and researchers shaping the future of business and technology. To learn more, visit the Digital Disruption podcast page and follow Info-Tech Research Group on LinkedIn and X for updates. For more information about guest opportunities and participation in upcoming episodes, please contact [email protected]. Media Passes for Info-Tech LIVE 2025 in Las Vegas Media professionals, including journalists, podcasters, and influencers, are invited to attend Info-Tech LIVE 2025 to gain exclusive access to research, content, and interviews with industry leaders. For those unable to attend in person, Info-Tech offers a digital pass option, providing access to live-streamed keynotes, select sessions, and exclusive virtual interviews with speakers and analysts. Media professionals looking to apply for in-person or digital passes can contact [email protected] to secure their spot and cover the latest advancements in IT directly from the event or remotely. About Info-Tech Research Group Info-Tech Research Group is one of the world's leading research and advisory firms, proudly serving over 30,000 IT and HR professionals. The company produces unbiased, highly relevant research and provides advisory services to help leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For nearly 30 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with teams to provide them with everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations. To learn more about Info-Tech's divisions, visit McLean & Company for HR research and advisory services and SoftwareReviews for software buying insights. Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software and hundreds of industry analysts through the firm's Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact [email protected].
