Google’s Demis Hassabis has stated that artificial general intelligence might be just five years away, even though the path is not without risks.
The journey towards creating artificial general intelligence (AGI) could involve “catastrophic outcomes”, like cyberattacks on energy or water infrastructure, Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis has cautioned. He indicated that AGI could arrive within the next decade.
Speaking at the Axios AI+ Summit in San Francisco last week, Hassabis described AGI as a model that demonstrates “all the cognitive capabilities” of humans, including inventive and creative skills.
He contended that current large language models remain “jagged intelligences” with deficiencies in reasoning, long-term planning, and continual learning. Nevertheless, he suggested that AGI could soon become a reality with continuous scaling and “one or two more major breakthroughs.”
Simultaneously, Hassabis recognized that the period leading up to AGI is likely to incorporate tangible risks and “catastrophic outcomes,” such as cyberattacks on energy or water infrastructure.
“That’s probably almost already occurring now… perhaps not with very sophisticated AI yet,” he said, referring to this as the “most obvious vulnerable vector.” He added that malicious actors, autonomous agents, and systems that “deviate” from intended objectives all necessitate serious mitigation. “It’s non-zero,” he said regarding the possibility that advanced systems could “jump the guardrail.”
Hassabis’ concerns mirror broader warnings across the tech industry. An open letter published in October and signed by leading technologists and public figures has asserted that “superintelligent” systems could endanger human freedom or even survival, advocating for a global ban on AI development until safety can be ensured. Signatories include Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, AI pioneers Geoffrey Hinton and Yoshua Bengio, Virgin Group founder Richard Branson, and prominent political and cultural figures.
Others have adopted a more optimistic perspective. Elon Musk said last month that advancements in AI and robotics could render work “optional” within 10 – 20 years and predicted that currency could become “irrelevant” in an AI-driven economy, while noting that significant technological progress is still needed before such a future can materialize.