Latest news with #TheOpenUniversityofIsrael
Hans India
a day ago
- Science
- Hans India
Ilya Sutskever Warns of an Unpredictable AI Future: "It's Going to Be Unimaginable"
Ilya Sutskever, co-founder and former chief scientist of OpenAI, has raised a powerful caution about the future of artificial intelligence, calling it 'extremely unpredictable and unimaginable.' In a recent interview with The Open University of Israel, Sutskever described a near-future shaped by rapidly evolving AI that could outpace human understanding. 'AI is going to be both extremely unpredictable and unimaginable,' he said, emphasizing the moment AI begins to enhance itself could trigger a cascade of developments that humanity may not be able to steer. Despite acknowledging the risks, Sutskever remains optimistic about the possibilities. 'If the AI became capable enough, we'll have incredible health care,' he noted. He believes that such advancements could potentially eradicate diseases and significantly extend human life. The AI trailblazer was speaking shortly after receiving an honorary degree from the university. Reflecting on his journey into the field, he recalled teaching himself complex subjects during his school years. 'I just read slowly and carefully until I understood,' he said. After moving to Toronto, he bypassed high school entirely, heading straight to the University of Toronto to study under legendary AI researcher Geoffrey Hinton—'the place to be,' he remembered. Sutskever's early contributions include AlexNet, the breakthrough neural network that revolutionized AI. That success led him through major industry milestones, from launching a startup acquired by Google to co-founding OpenAI with a mission to develop impactful AI with a team of distinguished minds. He described current AI capabilities as 'evocative,' suggesting today's systems offer glimpses into a future full of potential. 'We have a brain, the brain is a biological computer, so why can't a digital computer, a digital brain, do the same things?' he reasoned. When asked how close we are to that future, Sutskever predicted that a leap into artificial superintelligence could arrive in as little as 'three, five, maybe ten years.' After that, the pace of innovation might become 'really extremely fast for some time at least,' he added. He stressed that this technological shift is inevitable: 'Whether you like it or not, your life is going to be affected by AI to a great extent.' Addressing graduates, Sutskever advised embracing the present and letting go of past regrets. 'It's just so much better and more productive to say, 'Okay, things are the way they are, what's the next best step?'' His words carried additional weight, considering his central role in OpenAI's 2023 leadership shake-up. Sutskever was part of the board that unexpectedly removed CEO Sam Altman, a decision he later regretted. Altman was reinstated within days, while Sutskever departed the company six months later to start a new AI lab focused on building safe superintelligence. He ended his speech with a reflection on the unprecedented nature of our times. 'We all live in the most unusual time ever,' he said. 'And the reason it's true this time is because of AI.'I
India Today
a day ago
- Science
- India Today
OpenAI co-founder says AI is going to be extremely unpredictable and unimaginable
Artificial intelligence may still be imperfect today, but Ilya Sutskever, co-founder and former chief scientist at OpenAI, believes it is only the beginning of a future that could quickly become unpredictable and unimaginable. Speaking in a recent video interview with The Open University of Israel, Sutskever said that the rapid development of AI systems could lead to a tipping point. Once AI begins to improve itself, the pace of progress might spiral beyond human control or comprehension. 'AI is going to be both extremely unpredictable and unimaginable,' he he acknowledged the risks, Sutskever also expressed optimism about the technology's potential to transform the world. 'If the AI became capable enough, we'll have incredible health care,' he said, adding that diseases could be cured and human lifespans comments came shortly after he accepted an honorary degree from The Open University, where he reflected on his personal journey into artificial intelligence. He described how, as an eighth-grade student, he taught himself advanced topics simply by reading slowly and carefully until he understood relocating to Toronto, Sutskever made an unusual choice: he skipped completing high school and instead transferred directly to the University of Toronto to study under AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton. 'The place to be,' he recalled. This passion for learning led him to help develop AlexNet, a groundbreaking neural network that reshaped the field of AI. That success caught the attention of major tech companies, eventually leading Sutskever and his collaborators to form a startup, later acquired by Google. His next move was co-founding OpenAI, driven by a desire to build something meaningful 'with all these illustrious people.'Ilya Sutskever says AI could cure disease, extend life, and accelerate science beyond if it can do that, what else can it do?'The problem with AI is that it is so powerful. It can also do everything.'We don't know what's coming. We must prepare, together. vitrupo (@vitrupo) June 28, 2025advertisementIn his recent remarks, Sutskever stressed how AI is already capable of surprising feats, calling its current state 'evocative'. He said that AI is already powerful enough to hint at vast possibilities, but not yet fully realised. He said AI systems would eventually be able to do everything that humans can do, and perhaps laid out his reasoning with a simple comparison: 'We have a brain, the brain is a biological computer, so why can't a digital computer, a digital brain, do the same things?'When pressed on how soon such a future might arrive, Sutskever estimated a breakthrough into true superintelligence could happen in 'three, five, maybe ten years.' What comes after, he said, is unclear. 'The rate of progress will become really extremely fast for some time at least,' he future, he said, is unavoidable. 'Whether you like it or not, your life is going to be affected by AI to a great extent.'Sutskever also shared advice for the graduating class, encouraging them to focus on the present instead of dwelling on past mistakes. 'It's so easy to think, 'Oh, some bad past decision or bad stroke of luck,'' he said. 'It's just so much better and more productive to say, 'Okay, things are the way they are, what's the next best step?''advertisementHis words held deeper meaning given his own role in the surprise ousting of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in late 2023. Sutskever was part of the board that removed Altman, only to later express deep regret and join the call for his reinstatement. Altman returned within days, and Sutskever left the company six months later to launch a new AI lab focused on building 'safe superintelligence.'Returning to his academic roots, Sutskever told graduates that the age of AI is unlike any other moment in history. 'We all live in the most unusual time ever,' he said. 'And the reason it's true this time is because of AI.'- Ends
