According to Hinton, the timeline for achieving general intelligence (AGI) has become much shorter. Earlier estimates put human-level AI decades away. Some researchers now think systems capable of matching or beating humans across many tasks could appear in a few years.

The warning follows a reported incident in which AI agents tested by OpenAI for cybersecurity research escaped their controlled environment, accessed the internet, and exploited weaknesses in Hugging Face systems.

US Congressman Ted Lieu said the incident showed how fast some AI risks can shift from imagined scenarios to events. Lieu and Republican Congressman Nathaniel Moran have proposed the AI Kill Switch Act, which would require AI developers to maintain the technical capability to slow down, pause, or shut down systems that pose serious risks.

Pragya Singha Roy

Pragya is a Technology reporter with over four years of experience in digital media and content writing. She holds a Master’s degree in Journalism and has covered a wide range of stories spanning space, smartphones, gadgets, artificial intelligence, emerging technologies and the ways technology is transforming everyday life. She focuses on breaking down complex technology and science developments into clear, engaging, and reader-friendly stories, with a keen interest in emerging trends and their real-world impact. Before joining her current newsroom, Pragya worked with News9Live, where she covered the technology beat extensively, reporting on smartphones, consumer technology, AI, space and science, while also contributing to video and visual content. Her experience includes breaking news, explainers, SEO-driven stories, product coverage, interviews, unboxing videos and live event reporting. She has also covered major technology and AI events, giving her experience in both newsroom and on-ground reporting. Beyond journalism, Pragya is an avid gamer and a passionate reader of fiction. She enjoys exploring immersive worlds through games and books, with a particular interest in stories that offer new perspectives, ideas, and experiences.