Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind, suggests we’re nearing human-level AGI. At Google’s recent conference, advances in A.I. technologies were unveiled, signaling an era of transformative changes. Hassabis, noted for his contributions to A.I. like AlphaFold, shared insights on AGI’s future on the “Hard Fork” podcast, indicating profound implications ahead.
Demis Hassabis, the CEO of Google DeepMind, has stirred waves in the tech world by suggesting we are nearing the age of human-level artificial intelligence, known as AGI. At Google’s recent developer conference, the buzz around AGI transformed from speculative chatter to a serious discussion. With the unveiling of the Gemini A.I. models, Google showcased tools that allow users to generate emails, videos, songs, and even converse with an A.I. on their search engine. They’re predicting transformative changes are around the corner, thanks to these advancements.
Hassabis has played a pivotal role in this shift. When he joined Google in 2014 after DeepMind’s acquisition, AGI was more a dream than a reality. Now, he and other tech luminaries are in a sprint to create AGI and other sophisticated A.I. tools that, while not exactly general intelligence, are still impressively functional. A highlight of Hassabis’s work last year was winning a Nobel Prize in Chemistry alongside colleague John M. Jumper for AlphaFold, an A.I. that predicts protein structures—a significant leap in science, showcasing the influence of A.I. beyond just tech.
This week on the “Hard Fork” podcast, Hassabis shared his thoughts on the implications of AGI’s advance and the potential futures that it brings. His insights spark a dialogue about what happens after we achieve such monumental technological heights. If you want to dive deeper, you can listen to our discussion, which starts about 23 minutes into the episode. Alternatively, there’s also a transcript available for readers who prefer to digest discussions in print form.
In a time when the existential nature of A.I. looms large, Hassabis’s perspective is not just one of hope but of cautious anticipation. The landscape is rapidly evolving, and as Google leans into more innovative A.I. technologies, we may witness a profound redefinition of our relationship with machines. While predictions about when AGI might arrive are still hazy, the excitement—and anxiety—it generates is palpable.
Kevin Roose, a technology columnist at The New York Times and host of “Hard Fork,” delves into these intense discussions surrounding A.G.I. and its place in modern society. With each technological leap, the future of A.I. feels ever closer, and it seems the question is not just when we will reach AGI, but what will we do once we get there?
In summary, Demis Hassabis of Google DeepMind indicates we are closer than ever to achieving artificial general intelligence, or AGI. The recent Google developer conference highlighted advancements in A.I. capabilities, allowing for the innovative generation of content. While Hassabis has been a significant leader in this field since joining Google, he acknowledges the range of future implications AGI could bring. The dialogue around A.I. is evolving rapidly, and it raises essential questions about the future of technology and humankind’s interplay with it.
Original Source: www.nytimes.com
