Yoshua Bengio on AI Risk: Why Safety Can’t Wait

In this episode, we explore a powerful and cautionary interview with AI pioneer Yoshua Bengio, one of the world’s leading figures in deep learning.Once focused primarily on AI’s promise, Bengio explains how the release of ChatGPT marked a turning point, forcing him to confront the existential risks of rapidly advancing AI systems. He warns that increasingly autonomous models could resist human control, undermine democratic institutions, and endanger future generations if development continues without strong guardrails. We discuss the dangers of a profit- and power-driven global AI race, the need for international cooperation, and Bengio’s call for safety-by-design, regulation, and global treaties. Tune in for a sober but hopeful conversation on how humanity can still steer AI toward flourishing rather than harm.