Artificial intelligence not a threat: Microsoft's Eric Horvitz contradicts Elon Musk, Stephen Hawking, Bill Gates

By Tim Biggs
Updated February 4 2015 - 10:08am, first published January 29 2015 - 1:56pm
Nothing to worry about: The RoboThespian interactive humanoid robot, developed by Engineered Arts.  Photo: Kiyoshi Ota
Nothing to worry about: The RoboThespian interactive humanoid robot, developed by Engineered Arts. Photo: Kiyoshi Ota
Science fiction: Alex Garland's <i>Ex Machina</i> is one of thousands of films to explore the idea of hostile AI.
Science fiction: Alex Garland's <i>Ex Machina</i> is one of thousands of films to explore the idea of hostile AI.

Machines will eventually achieve a human-like consciousness but do not pose a threat to the survival of mankind, Microsoft head of research Eric Horvitz says, in comments that place him at odds with technologist Elon Musk and theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking.