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Google DeepMind CEO predicts AGI within years but warns of urgent need for safety regulations.

Key points

• AGI’s imminent arrival

Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis claims Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) could arrive within a few years, heralding a technological revolution akin to historical breakthroughs like fire or electricity.

• Potential societal impact

AGI could accelerate drug discovery, clean energy development, and material science, potentially eliminating resource scarcity and ushering in an era of abundance for humanity.

• Dual-edged nature of AGI

While AGI could revolutionise fields like healthcare and agriculture, it also poses risks such as misuse for cybercrime, disinformation, or intellectual property theft.

• Call for safety guardrails

Hassabis urges technology companies to establish a Standards Body, modelled on FINRA, to develop safety protocols and conduct rigorous testing before AGI deployment.

• Proactive policy framework

He advocates for public-private partnerships to balance innovation with responsibility, international collaboration on safety, and careful deployment strategies to benefit society.

Processed with AI. Reviewed by DH Digital Team.

Published 15 July 2026, 13:43 IST