DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis Discusses Ethical AI Usage

Demis Hassabis, cofounder and CEO of DeepMind, believes that instilling ethics in artificial intelligence (AI) requires the same level of care and intention as raising a child.

"Teaching morality to AI—much like you would teach your child," he said, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that these systems develop in ways that are consistent with human values.

For Hassabis, the long-term success of AI is dependent not only on technological progress, but also on keeping systems safe, aligned, and under human control. As AI becomes more autonomous, the stakes increase. "Can we make sure that they are doing what we want, that they benefit society, and that they stay on guardrails—with safety limits built into the system?"

In an interview with CBS' Scott Pelley, the Nobel Prize winner clarified that developing conscious or self-aware AI is not a specific goal for his team.

He believes that current AI systems lack consciousness and self-awareness. "I don't think any of today's systems feel self-aware or conscious in any way," he told me. However, he does not rule out the possibility. "These systems might develop some sense of self-awareness. That's possible."

What is more important, he said, is that systems comprehend the concepts of "self" and "other"—an early step toward more advanced cognitive abilities.

Demis Hassabis and researcher John Jumper received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry last year, along with biochemist David Baker. They were recognized for using artificial intelligence to predict the 3D structure of proteins, a groundbreaking discovery that is reshaping biological research.

AI Model Training

DeepMind designs AI systems with architectural goals in mind, but they learn through data, much like humans. "We don't program that in," Hassabis said. "It learns like a human being would learn."

As models process large and diverse datasets, unexpected properties may emerge during training. DeepMind's research initiative, Project Astra, is one example of the company's efforts to understand how such learning systems behave and adapt.

According to Hassabis, the rate at which AI is developing has exceeded his own expectations. "It's moving incredibly fast," he said. "We're on some kind of exponential curve of improvement." The increasing attention, investment, and talent entering the field are fueling this momentum.

It was reported in January that artificial intelligence could open up a $15 trillion economic opportunity for India in the coming years. According to a recent Deloitte report, India is rapidly emerging as a global leader in the adoption of Agentic AI. According to the study, more than 80% of the country's businesses are actively exploring the development and implementation of autonomous agents.