DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis Wins Nobel Prize, Predicts AI-Driven Scientific Breakthroughs Within Decade
January 29, 2025
Demis Hassabis, the CEO of DeepMind and a prominent AI researcher, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2024 for his groundbreaking work on predicting protein structures using AI.
DeepMind gained international recognition for developing an AI that defeated the world's best Go player, showcasing the potential of artificial intelligence.
Hassabis envisions the next decade as a golden era for scientific discovery driven by AI, emphasizing the importance of human ingenuity alongside technological advancements.
He stresses the necessity for careful design and international cooperation to mitigate the risks associated with powerful AI technologies.
Hassabis expresses concerns about the potential misuse of AI by malicious actors and the unintended consequences that could arise from self-improving AGI systems.
He estimates a 50% chance that artificial general intelligence (AGI) could be achieved within the next five years, projecting that it won't take longer than a decade.
Hassabis's ultimate ambition is to develop a 'theory of everything' in AI that encompasses all forms of intelligence.
He acknowledges the competitive landscape of AI development, noting the presence of leading players such as DeepMind, Anthropic, and OpenAI, as well as emerging models from China.
Critiquing the claims surrounding AGI tests, he specifically addresses the o3 model from OpenAI, labeling it a misnomer for a standard cognitive benchmark.
Hassabis views the public reaction to ChatGPT in 2022 as a pivotal moment for AI, highlighting its unexpectedly strong performance and mainstream acceptance.
He contemplates the potential for AI systems to model the fundamental laws of physics, which could lead to significant breakthroughs in our understanding of reality.
Hassabis argues that language alone is insufficient for AI to fully comprehend the world, emphasizing the importance of interaction with the environment and multimodal learning.
Summary based on 2 sources
Get a daily email with more AI stories
Sources

ZEIT ONLINE • Jan 29, 2025
Demis Hassabis: "I've Been Driven My Whole Life to Build AI as the Ultimate Tool"