Google DeepMind Lab Head Says AI As Powerful As The Human Brain On The Horizon
The CEO and co-founder of DeepMind, Demis Hassabis, predicts that an artificial intelligence (AI) as capable as the human brain may be developed within a few years. He believes that artificial general intelligence (AGI) is on the horizon, which is a theoretical concept in the field that envisions AI matching the cognitive abilities of humans. This, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Hassabis made the comments at a Wall Street Journal conference where he acknowledged that “the progress in the last few years has been pretty incredible.” He added that “I think we will have very capable and very general systems in the next few years.” Google, which acquired DeepMind in 2014 for $500 million, is now focusing on artificial intelligence to strengthen its business and compete with Microsoft-backed ChatGPT developer OpenAI.
Hassabis plays a central role in Google’s mission to improve its artificial intelligence capabilities. He was recently announced as the head of a newly formed unit at Google that unites DeepMind with Google Brain, a separate AI research arm. Since its founding in 2010, DeepMind has been working on building machines that are capable of learning, thinking, and acting like humans.
Despite the advancements in AI, researchers are becoming increasingly divided on the benefits of achieving AGI. There are concerns about the accuracy and misuse of large existing language models that underlie tools like ChatGPT and Google Bard.
Hassabis, however, believes that the progress of artificial intelligence should not be paused, but the development of AGI technologies should be done “in a cautious manner using the scientific method,” which involves rigorous experimentation and testing.
Hassabis’ comments align with Google’s broader focus on artificial intelligence. The company is investing heavily in AI to improve its search capabilities and to expand its presence in other areas, such as healthcare and self-driving cars. By integrating DeepMind with Google Brain, Google is hoping to accelerate the development of AGI technologies and to push the boundaries of what is possible with AI.
The development of AGI technologies could have significant implications for society. AGI could help solve some of the world’s most pressing problems, such as climate change and disease. However, it could also lead to job displacement and other societal issues. Therefore, it is important that the development of AGI is approached with caution and that its potential impact on society is carefully considered.
