Universities To Become Redundant? Godfather Of AI Makes Bold Prediction

Geoffrey Hinton, regarded by many as the 'godfather of artificial intelligence' (AI) has predicted that the advancements in AI may not be "good news for universities". Mr Hinton, who has been circumspect about the rise of the technology, said these AI tutors will be able to provide customised lessons to individuals by assessing their weak points, something that traditional educators had been unable to do.

Mr Hinton, who was awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in physics alongside John Hopfield, said AI systems were quickly evolving and could take the mantle of teachers in the coming decade.

"AI systems are not there yet, but some time in the next 10 years, probably they'll be really good," he said in an interview.

"When a kid is learning something, the AI system will be able to see exactly what it is the kid misunderstands because the AI system has seen a million other kids. So if a private tutor that's a person is like two times better, these will be three or four times better," he added.

"It may not be good news for universities but it's very good news for people learning stuff."

Quizzed if this meant the end of universities, Mr Hinton remarked: "Maybe we won't need them anymore."

He, however, added that individuals may still need the institutions for research and apprenticeship.

Geoffrey Hinton on AI as a Superhuman Tutor

Geoffrey Hinton predicts that within the next 10 years, AI will become exceptionally effective at teaching.

By analyzing patterns from millions of learners, AI will know exactly what a student misunderstands and how to fix it.

He… pic.twitter.com/ueCTxudk9h

— Wes Roth (@WesRothMoney) April 7, 2025

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Warning about AI

Mr Hinton laid the foundations for machine learning that is powering today's AI-based products and applications. However, the Nobel laureate grew wary of AI's future development and cut ties with his former employer Google in order to speak more freely on the issue.

"It will be comparable with the industrial revolution. But instead of exceeding people in physical strength, it's going to exceed people in intellectual ability. We have no experience of what it's like to have things smarter than us," said Mr Hinton at the time.

"I am worried that the overall consequence of this might be systems more intelligent than us that eventually take control."