Rant: Demis Hassabis On The Future of Work in the Age of AI
... Dennis Hassabis, the knighted CEO of Google DeepMind, sitting there like a modern-day Merlin, promising us that AI will solve all of humanity's problems as if it’s just an upgrade to the latest iPhone ...
Oh wow, where do I even start with this glorious display of corporate fluff? I mean, Dennis Hassabis, the knighted CEO of Google DeepMind, sitting there like a modern-day Merlin, promising us that AI will solve all of humanity's problems as if it’s just an upgrade to the latest iPhone. “Oh, just five to ten years until we have AGI,” he says, like he’s ordering a latte at Starbucks. Throw in some magical phrases like “radical abundance” and “non-zero sum game,” and just watch the audience swoon at the sheer brilliance of it all.
But let’s talk about the real gems in this interview. Apparently, we’ll be traveling to the stars and colonizing galaxies soon—not even in our wildest sci-fi fantasies did we anticipate getting that kind of productivity boost from an AI that still flunks basic math. Seriously, Dennis, you're telling us that the future of work will be filled with advanced creativity and better job opportunities, all while we already see countless humans struggling to find work as gig economies proliferate like rabbits? What a comforting thought!
And as for those “incredible tools” that will make us all “superhuman,” what a delightfully optimistic wish! Because digging into the realm of healthcare and sustainability is so easy, especially when, like you noted, we've known how to tackle climate change for decades but still can’t get our acts together. You mean to tell me a lack of AI magic will save us from our own indifference? Shocking!
Then there’s this astonishing acknowledgement that we need “smart regulation"—a warm hug for technology while simultaneously conceding that past promises went unfulfilled. Really? Regulation to save us from the horrors of AI misuse? If I didn’t know any better, I’d say we’re just giving the digital genie a fancy new lamp. But don’t worry, they’re definitely chatting with each other in the “small number of labs.” Just a few AI wizards tossing around concepts while the world watches.
Let’s also admire the sprinkle of humility in all of this when Dennis professes uncertainty about how quickly the AI landscape will evolve. It’s like an academic guessing game—but with a little less accountability and a little more stakeholder intrigue. Bravo for keeping it mysterious, Dennis!
So yes, let’s huddle around this glowing orb of technological promise, because clearly AGI will redefine everything, just like previous “revolutions” did. I mean, who doesn’t want a knight in shining armor to lead us into a glorious future where everything from disease to resource distribution is handled by algorithms? I can just see it: "Oh look, I just asked my AI doctor for a prescription, and it cured my existential dread. NBD."
In hindsight, if you’re looking for a nice, dreamy escape into the utopian notion of AI future without any messy realities, this video is a vintage wine that leaves a delightful aftertaste of ignorance. Cheers to that!