From the 'godfathers of AI' to newer people in the field: Here are 16 people you should know — and what they say about the possibilities and dangers of the technology.

Three of the "godfathers of AI" helped spark the revolution that's making its way through the tech industry — and all of society. They are, from left, Yann LeCun, Geoffrey Hinton, and Yoshua Bengio.Meta Platforms/Noah Berger/Associated Press

• Artificial intelligence has leaped into the mainstream after ChatGPT launched in November.
• Researchers, CEOs, and legislators are now talking about how AI could transform our lives.

Since ChatGPT launched last November, AI has catapulted into the mainstream.

Investment in artificial intelligence is rapidly growing — on track to hit $200 billion by 2025 — as companies race to ramp up their AI divisions. People are grappling with how applications of AI will change the way we communicate with one another, make our lives more efficient, or even how AI could replace our jobs.

And yet, over the past few months, major business leaders and researchers in the field have begun speaking up about the risks and benefits associated with the dizzying pace of AI development. Some say AI will lead to a major leap forward in the quality of human life. Others have signed a letter calling for a six-month pause on development, testified before Congress on the long-term risks of AI, and claimed it could present a more urgent danger to the world than climate change.

In short, AI is a hot — and controversial — topic right now. To help you cut through the frenzy, Insider put together a list of some of the big names in the field. Of course, no list can be completely comprehensive, but here's a good starting point to learn what leaders in the field are saying about how the technology could shape our future.