AI godfather Geoffrey Hinton reveals once a girlfriend used AI to dump him: ‘I don’t think I had been…’

Geoffrey Hinton

, also known as Godfather of AI, recently revealed that he was once dumped by a girlfriend who used AI to end their relationship. In an interview with Financial Times, Hinton said his ex-girlfriend asked the

AI chatbot

to explain why he had been a “rat”. The AI bot then generated a response criticizing the Noble prize winner’s behaviour. “She got the chatbot to explain how awful my behaviour was and gave it to me,” he told FT. The 76-year-old computer scientist added that he did not agree with the chatbot’s description. “I didn't think I had been a rat, so it didn't make me feel too bad. I met somebody I liked more, you know how it goes,” he said.Should one use AI models like ChatGPT for relationship problemsThe incident highlights how AI is finding its way into everyday life. From writing emails to helping with routine tasks — and even being used to deliver a breakup — AI is becoming a growing part of how people communicate.

Notably, ChatGPT-parent company OpenAI has issued guidelines asking users not to unload their relationship problems to the AI chatbot. In August, the company announced a series of changes its rolling out to ChatGPT to better support users during difficult times."When you ask something like 'Should I break up with my boyfriend?' ChatGPT shouldn't give you an answer," the company said in a statement about the changes. "It should help you think it through—asking questions, weighing pros and cons. New behavior for high-stakes personal decisions is rolling out soon."

Geoffrey Hinton ‘nuclear bomb’ warning

Hinton recently sounded an alarm about the technology’s potential for harm. The recent public frenzy over AI tools like ChatGPT has caused Hinton to shift from accelerating AI development to raising deep concerns about its future. He now believes that AI poses a grave threat to humanity, saying that the technology can help any person to create a nuclear bomb. Hinton described a chilling scenario where AI could enable an average person to create a bioweapon.“A normal person assisted by AI will soon be able to build bioweapons and that is terrible,” he said, adding, “Imagine if an average person in the street could make a nuclear bomb.”