Generative artificial intelligence has been with us for only a few years, representing a significant leap from the AI we’ve known for decades, but this is just the beginning. Currently, the most advanced AI systems are automated models and agents expert in specific tasks. However, in the near future, the development of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is anticipated. This advancement promises a profound societal shift, potentially reshaping how everything functions with AI at its core. Among the leading AI experts, the founder of Google DeepMind is widely believed to have the highest probability of achieving AGI, a prospect that instills concern in both Elon Musk and Sam Altman as formidable competition.
AGI, or Artificial General Intelligence, is considered by many to be the next major evolutionary step for AI. It is envisioned as an artificial intelligence capable of learning and applying knowledge across any human activity. Crucially, AGI would possess the capacity for autonomous learning without the need for constant retraining. This would grant it reasoning abilities more akin to humans, with its greatest strength being its expertise in all domains, not just specific tasks.
Sam Altman and Elon Musk Fear Google DeepMind’s Demis Hassabis Will Reach AGI Before Anyone Else
Once general artificial intelligence is implemented, it is speculated that it could potentially dominate humanity, leading to the futuristic societies depicted in numerous science fiction works. While no one has yet successfully developed true AGI, billionaires Elon Musk and Sam Altman are reportedly concerned that Demis Hassabis, the founder of Google DeepMind, might be the individual to achieve it. Musk, in particular, has expressed significant apprehension towards Google DeepMind, viewing OpenAI as a lesser rival and desiring to curb Hassabis’s progress “before it’s too late.”
Interestingly, Demis Hassabis’s professional background includes significant contributions to the gaming industry. He worked at Bullfrog and founded his own development studio, Elixir Studios, responsible for games like “Republic: The Revolution.” He also served as the lead AI programmer for the game “Black & White.”
Elon Musk Considered Demis the ‘Final Boss of AI’ Years Ago
Elon Musk’s concerns began as early as 2016, when he noted in an email that it was imperative to attract top talent to avoid being surpassed by DeepMind, acknowledging their substantial AI work at the time. Just two years later, he stated that “the future of humanity rests in Demis’s hands,” while simultaneously downplaying OpenAI’s competitiveness. This period coincided with Musk’s departure from OpenAI, which subsequently transitioned from a non-profit organization to a hybrid model.
Hassabis and his team have achieved notable breakthroughs, including contributing to the Nobel Prize in Chemistry with AlphaFold, an AI system capable of predicting protein structures. Hassabis is perceived as the ‘final boss’ that rivals must overcome to secure leadership in the race for AGI. Concurrently, there are concerns that whoever controls AGI will wield immense power, making it a potentially dangerous force if concentrated in the hands of a single person or entity.
