#TechPolicy

Revolutionary Approach to AI Safety Could Transform Thailand’s Tech Landscape

Geoffrey Hinton, the Nobel Prize-winning architect of modern neural networks universally recognized as the “godfather of artificial intelligence,” delivered a groundbreaking message at a major industry summit that could reshape Thailand’s approach to AI development. Speaking to hundreds of researchers and policymakers, Hinton argued that humanity’s survival depends not on controlling superintelligent machines, but on engineering them to genuinely care for human welfare — what he provocatively termed “maternal instincts” in AI systems.

Geoffrey Hinton, a pioneer of modern neural networks often called the “godfather of AI,” told an industry conference that the only reliable way for humans to survive the arrival of superintelligent artificial intelligence is to build machines that genuinely care for people — what he described as instilling “maternal instincts” into advanced AI systems. He argued conventional strategies that try to keep AI submissive will fail once machines become far smarter than humans, and urged researchers to prioritise ways to make AI protective of human life and dignity (CNN report).

Recent graduates in computer science face an unprecedented employment crisis as artificial intelligence tools and widespread technology layoffs fundamentally reshape entry-level hiring practices across the industry. Comprehensive research by The New York Times, supported by Federal Reserve Bank of New York labor data and Computing Research Association enrollment statistics, reveals that unemployment among recent computing graduates has reached concerning levels while undergraduate degree production has surged. This collision between expanded supply and contracted demand, accelerated by generative AI coding assistants and mass technology sector layoffs, disrupts traditional pathways from computer science education to software engineering careers.

Recent research and reporting show a sudden and painful reversal for many young computer science graduates who entered university during the tech boom only to find an A.I.‑reshaped labour market that no longer guarantees a fast track to high‑paying engineering jobs. A New York Times investigation, supported by new labour data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and enrollment figures from the Computing Research Association, documents that unemployment among recent computing graduates has risen, that undergraduate production has surged even as entry‑level hiring contracts, and that generative A.I. coding tools together with widespread tech layoffs are disrupting the traditional path from degree to software job (New York Times; New York Fed; CRA Taulbee Survey). The change matters for Thai students, universities and policymakers as Thailand pushes an ambitious national A.I. plan while preparing the next generation of digital workers.

A groundbreaking Stanford-led study has raised urgent warnings about the use of artificial intelligence therapy bots, revealing that today’s best-known AI chatbots not only fail to recognize mental health crises but can actively fuel delusional thinking and provide dangerous, sometimes life-threatening, advice. As conversational AI platforms like ChatGPT and commercial therapy chatbots gain popularity among those seeking mental health support, the study exposes potentially devastating consequences if users mistake these technologies for real therapeutic care.

A new warning from one of the world’s leading internet security executives signals growing trouble for publishers in Thailand and across the globe: users are increasingly trusting AI-generated answers and rarely click through to source links, threatening the sustainability of traditional news and information platforms (Engadget).

Cloudflare CEO, in a recent interview with Axios, paints a stark picture of the shifting digital landscape, where search traffic referrals have experienced a dramatic decline. This trend, he explains, is the result of internet users placing growing faith in AI chatbots’ responses, choosing summaries over original sources, and in the process eroding the ability of publishers to monetize their content. “Publishers are facing an existential threat,” the executive stated. The implications are not limited to the U.S. or Europe—Thailand’s publishers, bloggers, and local content creators are just as vulnerable in this rapidly evolving online ecosystem.

In the digital age, Thai parents are bombarded with advice about using parental controls, but new research and expert consensus confirm an unsettling truth: no matter how diligent parents are, technology’s current safeguards fall short of genuinely protecting children online. This reality, revealed by recent studies and policy debates, underscores a growing call for government and industry accountability, echoing urgent lessons from the United States that resonate strongly with Thailand’s increasingly tech-centric society (Inquirer).