Nobel Winner Geoffrey Hinton Praises Ex-Student for Ousting Sam Altman from OpenAI
The ‘Godfather of AI’ Reflects on Legacy and AI Safety Concerns
Geoffrey Hinton, often called the “Godfather of AI,” accepted the Nobel Prize in Physics this week for his foundational work on artificial neural networks. During his acceptance speech, Hinton made headlines by praising a former student—widely understood to be OpenAI’s ex-Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever—for their role in Sam Altman’s controversial ouster from OpenAI.
Hinton’s Proud Moment: A Stand for AI Safety
In his Nobel Prize speech, Hinton remarked:
“I was particularly fortunate to have many very clever students—much cleverer than me—who actually made things work. They’ve gone on to do great things. I’m particularly proud of the fact that one of my students fired Sam Altman.”
This statement references OpenAI’s board decision in November 2023 to remove Altman as CEO, with Sutskever personally delivering the news via video call. Though Sutskever later expressed regret, Hinton’s comments suggest he views the move as a principled stand for AI safety—a cause he frequently champions.
The Short-Lived Victory
While Hinton celebrated the move as a win for responsible AI development, the power shift proved temporary:
- Altman was reinstated within days amid employee and investor backlash
- The OpenAI board was restructured, reducing oversight
- Altman now holds more control than before and may soon receive equity in OpenAI
Why This Matters
Hinton’s remarks highlight:
- The ongoing tension between AI advancement and safety concerns
- How foundational researchers view the real-world impact of their work
- The complex power dynamics at play in leading AI organizations
As one of AI’s most influential figures weighs in on one of the industry’s most dramatic moments, it underscores how scientific breakthroughs inevitably intersect with corporate and ethical challenges.
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