Google AI Chief Calls for Urgent Research on AI Threats
In an interview with the BBC at the AI Impact Summit in Delhi, the head of Google DeepMind, Sir Demis Hassabis, warned that tackling AI threats requires urgent research.
Sir Demis called for “smart regulation” to address the real risks posed by the technology.
He identified two main threats: the technology being exploited by bad actors and the risk of losing control over systems as they become more powerful.
He stressed the importance of building “robust guardrails” against the dangers but admitted keeping pace with AI development was “the hard thing” for regulators.
When asked if he could slow progress to give experts breathing room, he said his firm had an important role but was “only one player in the ecosystem”.
OpenAI boss Sam Altman echoed calls for urgent regulation at the summit, whilst Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged countries to work together.
However, the US has taken a starkly different position.
White House technology adviser Michael Kratsios declared: “We totally reject global governance of AI,” arguing that bureaucracies and centralised control would hinder adoption.
UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said politicians needed to work “hand in hand” with tech firms, insisting security and safety must benefit the wider public.
Sir Demis, who won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, believes the West is “slightly” ahead of China in AI development but warned it could be “only a matter of months” before China catches up.
He acknowledged his firm doesn’t always get things right but claimed they get it “more correct than most”.
Over 100 countries attended the summit, which wrapped up last week with delegates delivering a shared vision for handling artificial intelligence.