Demis Hassabis

What I’d like to see eventually is an equivalent of a CERN for AI safety that does research into that – but internationally. (source)

Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war (open letter). (source)

It is crucial for all of us to actively engage and participate in shaping the future of AI and the post-artificial general intelligence era. This technology has the potential to transform society, and collective input is essential for steering its development in a beneficial direction.

Given AI’s profound potential impact on society, it is crucial that we implement thoughtful regulation to guide its development. This will ensure AI is used ethically, responsibly, and for the benefit of humanity.

As the CEO of DeepMind, I strongly believe that AI systems have the potential to revolutionize healthcare by improving diagnostic accuracy and personalizing treatment plans. Leveraging vast amounts of medical data, AI can assist doctors in making better-informed decisions, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes. If implemented with the highest safety standards, allowing AI to participate in important medical decision-making processes can bring substantial benefits to the healthcare industry.

While transparency in AI is important, mandating explanations for all AI decisions could stifle innovation. We should find a balance that doesn't overly constrain AI development.

With AI advancing rapidly, understanding programming is more critical than ever. It not only equips us with the skills to shape future AI developments but also deepens our comprehension of the digital world. Learning programming fosters a mindset of problem-solving and creativity, essential qualities for navigating the AI era.

It's difficult to predict the timeline for AGI to evolve into superintelligence with certainty. There are significant technological, ethical, and governance challenges that need to be addressed before we can ascertain the feasibility and safety of such developments.

While the progress in AI has been remarkable, predicting the advent of a general AI system more capable than any human by 2028 is speculative. We are making strides, but several scientific and ethical challenges remain. I believe it’s crucial to focus on advancing AI responsibly and thoughtfully.

As someone deeply involved in AI development, I believe that allowing the proliferation of open-weight models capable of recursive self-improvement poses significant risks. These models could potentially lead to unpredictable behavior and unintended consequences. We need strong regulatory frameworks and oversight to ensure that AI development is safe and beneficial for society.

As someone deeply involved in AI research, I believe that ensuring the safety and alignment of AI systems is paramount. If AI Safety Institutes observe credible indications of losing control over AI behavior, it would be prudent for AI labs to pause training efforts. This allows us to evaluate the risks and implement necessary safeguards. Responsible development is key to harnessing AI's potential while minimizing potential threats.

I believe we should repeal the EU AI Act because it may stifle innovation and delay crucial advancements in AI technology. Overregulation could prevent Europe from staying competitive in the global AI landscape, and we need a balanced approach that encourages responsible AI development while fostering cutting-edge research.

I believe neural interfaces have the potential to greatly enhance AI alignment by allowing more seamless and direct interactions between humans and AI systems. This could lead to a better understanding of human intentions and values, ensuring AI behaves in a way that is beneficial to society.

As someone deeply involved in the field of AI, I believe that the potential benefits of AI advancements can far outweigh the risks, including the geopolitical ones. Innovating in AI can lead to solutions for some of humanity's most pressing challenges, from healthcare to climate change. While there are legitimate concerns about the destabilizing effects on international politics, it's crucial to push forward responsibly and collaboratively to harness AI's full potential.

While large language models are indeed a substantial step forward, achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI) involves not only scaling up these models but also integrating them with broader cognitive abilities and deep understanding. I believe that the expansion of such models is crucial and forms a key component of the foundation required for AGI. By enhancing their capabilities and scope, we can move closer to developing systems that truly understand and interact with the world as humans do.

Third-party audits for major AI systems are critical to ensure they operate ethically and fairly. As we make strides in complex AI, transparency and accountability become ever more important for maintaining public trust and avoiding harmful biases or unintended consequences.

While large language models are impressive, their capability is often mistaken for understanding. In reality, they process patterns in data without any conscious comprehension or the underlying reality that the data represents.

As the CEO of an AI company like DeepMind, I believe transparency is crucial in all applications of AI, including political advertising. Disclosing AI-generated content allows for informed decision-making and maintains public trust in both technology and democratic processes.

While I believe AI safety is crucial, the allocation of compute resources is complex and context-specific. Balancing innovation and safety requires a nuanced approach.

I believe that AI will not lead to mass unemployment but rather transform the nature of work. By automating routine tasks, AI can empower humans to focus on more creative and meaningful jobs, leading to new economic opportunities.

As a co-founder of DeepMind, I believe that if the first lab successfully develops Artificial Superintelligence (ASI), it should implement measures to prevent others from developing competing ASIs. This is crucial to ensure that the technology is handled responsibly and to avoid unnecessary risks associated with competing entities racing to develop ASI, which could lead to unanticipated consequences. Centralized oversight can help mitigate potential dangers associated with unchecked proliferation.