World Wide Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee warns 'AI is becoming more powerful than its creator'

Artificial intelligence holds immense promise in areas such as drug discovery, scientific research and disease treatment. However, its rapid evolution also raises serious concerns about the possibility of AI systems becoming more powerful than their human creators, British computer scientist and World Wide Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee has cautioned.

At a time when governments and corporations appear locked in a race to develop increasingly advanced AI tools, Berners-Lee warned that society has yet to fully grapple with the long-term consequences. Humanity, he said, will need to figure out how to deal with the prospect of “super intelligence”.

In a conversation with Jaya Bhattacharji Rose, Berners-Lee described ChatGPT as a “phase change” in technology, admitting he was surprised by its conversational abilities. The more important question, he stressed, is not just what AI can do — but who it works for.


He argued that AI assistants should act in the best interests of users, much like a doctor is bound by a duty of care, rather than prioritising corporate profits. This idea, he said, is closely tied to his Solid project and his company’s efforts to develop user-controlled data “pods” that allow individuals to manage and selectively share their personal information. Such systems, he noted, could also include child-safe configurations with parental oversight.

Berners-Lee also reflected on how the early web fostered a democratic and decentralised culture, where individuals could create their own websites and participate on an equal footing with institutions.

In contrast, today’s internet experience is largely shaped by dominant platforms, raising fresh questions about power, control and accountability in the digital age.

(With inputs from TOI)