A top Google executive just confirmed what many have feared, and that’s Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is closer than we expect.
Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind, told 60 Minutes that AI could reach human-level intelligence in only 5 to 10 years. That means machines could think, reason, and understand the world like humans by 2035.
“We’ll have a system that actually understands the whole lot around you in very nuanced and deep ways,” Hassabis said.
The warning
In a separate interview with Time, Hassabis said the world is unprepared for what’s coming.
“Testing recent AI features” April 25, 2025
“AGI is coming… I’m unsure society’s quite ready for that yet.” – Demmis Hassabis, chief executive officer and co-founder of Google DeepMind
He emphasized the urgent need for international cooperation between governments, firms, and labs to make sure AGI is protected and controllable.
DeepMind’s own research flagged AGI as a possible existential threat. A recent paper warned AGI could “permanently destroy humanity” if mishandled.
A robust promise
Despite the risks, Hassabis says AGI could also revolutionize health. Speaking to The Economic Times, he said AI has the potential to be “the tip of disease” inside the following decade.
“I feel there’s an excellent probability AI could possibly be the tip of disease as we understand it,” Hassabis said, citing breakthroughs in protein folding and drug discovery.
AGI is different from today’s AI. It’s not only smarter software; it’s software that may do anything a human can. Think creativity, logic, intuition, at digital speed.
Hassabis’ solution
He’s calling for a CERN-style international AGI research hub and an oversight body just like the IAEA to observe and control development.
The race to AGI is speeding up. And the person leading that race says we’re not ready, however the stakes couldn’t be higher, from ending disease to risking human extinction.
