Yoshua Bengio, one of the fathers of AI: «With artificial intelligence, we are building machines that can surpass us. In the wrong hands, the risks are enormous»

Facing the Future: Yoshua Bengio and the Race to Safe Artificial Intelligence. Imagine being at the forefront of a technological revolution, crafting the very foundations of machines that could one day surpass human intelligence. That's the reality for Yoshua Bengio, a pioneer in artificial intelligence, whose lifelong work has propelled AI to remarkable new heights. But with this progress comes a deep sense of responsibility and, increasingly, concern. Bengio's journey is marked by both excitement and anxiety. Early on, he believed AI could be a force for good, envisioning it as a tool to solve humanity's greatest challenges. Yet, as neural networks grew exponentially more powerful, he realized these creations were advancing far faster—and with far fewer constraints—than anyone had anticipated. The machines now possess abilities that outstrip us in some domains, and their potential to communicate, act, and even replicate themselves poses questions the world isn't ready to answer. At the heart of Bengio's message is a warning: in the wrong hands, A.I. could threaten the very fabric of human solidarity. The risks span from the erosion of democracy—where AI manipulates and polarizes societies—to existential threats, such as autonomous systems acting with goals misaligned with human well-being. The concentration of AI power among a handful of actors only heightens the peril, creating unprecedented dynamics where technology could outpace the checks and balances that have shaped civilization. Despite these risks, Bengio resists despair. He champions the idea of being a “doer” rather than a “doomer”—someone who believes we still have agency, that our choices and actions can steer the future in a positive direction. His current mission is to design a form of A.I. that is not “agentic”—meaning it doesn't pursue its own goals—but rather acts as a scientific oracle: honest, non-manipulative, and committed solely to truth. Such an AI, he argues, could serve as a safeguard, a check against more autonomous systems that might otherwise spiral out of control. Bengio's vision extends beyond technical fixes. He calls for global cooperation, a new framework where nations and institutions unite to ensure AI is developed responsibly and its benefits shared equitably. Religious and civic leaders, he believes, have a crucial role in awakening society to both the promise and peril of AI—galvanizing the collective will needed to demand accountability and wise stewardship. The stakes, as Bengio sees them, are nothing less than the future of human dignity and freedom. His quest is not for personal gain, but for a world where technology amplifies the best of humanity rather than undermines it. With humility, hope, and an unwavering commitment to action, Bengio steps into the arena—reminding us all that the story of AI is not yet written, and that the choices we make today will echo for generations to come.