Geoffrey Hinton warns of AI existential risk as US and India urge joint safeguards

AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton has renewed his warnings regarding the existential threats posed by autonomous artificial intelligence, urging strict external regulation rather than relying on corporate self-policing. Speaking on the rapid progression of frontier technology, Hinton argued that autonomous AI agents capable of operating independently present a non-negligible risk to human control, estimating a 10 to 20 per cent chance of catastrophic outcomes in coming decades.

His stance has triggered strong pushback from top industry figures. Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang dismissed Hinton’s risk estimates as unscientific and harmful, arguing that alarmism does not serve the public interest and that technological progress should remain evidence-based. Hinton responded that uncertainty itself justifies caution, comparing the scenario to taking a bus with a known crash probability, where losing control leaves no second chance to reset the game.

How are India and the US collaborating on AI safety?

Outside the corporate debate, governments are stepping up efforts to build resilient governance frameworks. Speaking at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum 2026, former US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo called for deepened cooperation between the United States and India on AI and semiconductor supply chains. Highlighting her discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Raimondo noted that Modi had underscored "AI, America, India" as a central pillar for bilateral technological collaboration.

Raimondo praised India's rising technical capability, national pride, and entrepreneurial drive, arguing that joint AI standards and workforce preparation are essential for shared global security. She warned that technology is advancing faster than expected, making international coordination vital to prevent risks while securing economic resilience.

How is artificial intelligence transforming healthcare delivery?

On the practical front, Indian medical experts attending a panel discussion in Chennai highlighted the transformational role of AI in national healthcare, provided robust clinical validation and data safeguards are maintained. Researchers demonstrated that AI-driven tuberculosis screening across six districts in Tamil Nadu helped bridge critical shortages in radiology staff.

With cancer screening rates currently below 1 per cent in India, low-cost AI tools deployed on smartphones could enable early diagnostic intervention in remote regions. However, panellists emphasised that medical validation, clinician literacy, and strict adherence to data protection regulations like India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act remain mandatory to safeguard patient consent and clinical integrity.