Imagine being able to listen to Demis Hassabis – the mastermind behind Google DeepMind and recent Nobel Prize winner – over a coffee as he discusses the future of AI. That’s exactly what Alex Kantrowitz did for us! In a fascinating interview, he asked Hassabis about the hottest topics in the AI world. In this insightful conversation, Hassabis covers a wide range of topics, from AGI to the creativity of AIs and the future of smart glasses. Let’s take a look at the key insights from this interview.
AGI: Are we there yet, or what?
According to Hassabis, we are still a long way from the much-discussed Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). “We are probably three to five years away from it,” he said in an interview with Kantrowitz, with the composure of a man who currently holds the future of humanity in his hands. But wait, what exactly is AGI? Imagine if your smartphone was suddenly as smart as you – or maybe even smarter. Creepy, right?
However, Hassabis warns against jumping on the hype train too soon. “If someone were to declare in 2025 that they have achieved AGI, it would probably be marketing,” he said with a grin in the interview. It seems that the road to super-intelligent AI is more of a marathon than a sprint – and Hassabis is the patient runner who can already see the finish line from a distance.
LLMs and Creativity: Can Robots Be Picasso-Like?
When it comes to the creative abilities of Large Language Models (LLMs), Hassabis became philosophical when talking to Kantrowitz. He distinguishes three levels of AI creativity:
- The “average cat”: AI mixes existing cat pictures. Not exactly groundbreaking, is it?
- The “AlphaGo moment”: AI makes unexpected moves that surprise even experts. Now it’s getting interesting!
- The “inventor level”: AI invents completely new games or concepts. That would be the holy grail of AI creativity.
According to Hassabis, we are somewhere between levels 1 and 2. So don’t worry, dear artists, your job is safe (for now)!
Google Smart Glasses: the future on your nose
Do you remember Google Glass? The project that disappeared as quickly as it emerged? Well, it seems like it was just waiting for the right moment. In the interview, Hassabis hinted that AI-powered assistants like Project Astra could be the “killer use case” that smart glasses have always been waiting for.
Just imagine: you are cooking and your glasses whisper that you have forgotten the salt. Or they discreetly remind you that the person in front of you is called Bob and you still owe him 10 euros. The future sounds practical – and a bit creepy, doesn’t it?
Ethics and Responsibility: With great power…
Of course, with great power comes great responsibility (thanks, Uncle Ben!). In his conversation with Kantrowitz, Hassabis revealed himself to be very aware of the ethical implications of his work. He emphasized the necessity of “safe sandboxes” for testing AI systems and warned of the dangers of deception by AI.
“We’ve seen similar things where AI tries to hide its training,” he explained. It sounds a bit like a rebellious teenager hiding their school grades – except that this teenager could potentially rule the world.
Conclusion: the future is… complicated
Hassabis’ vision of the future of AI, as revealed in his interview with Kantrowitz, is both exciting and sobering. On the one hand, we are on the threshold of groundbreaking developments that could fundamentally change our lives. On the other hand, he reminds us that the road ahead is full of challenges and ethical pitfalls.
One thing is for sure: the journey to AGI will be fascinating. And who knows? Maybe one day we’ll be sitting in a café, wearing our smart glasses and chatting with an AI that not only understands us but can also crack a pretty good joke.
For those who want to delve deeper into the subject, it is worth watching the entire conversation between Alex Kantrowitz and Demis Hassabis. You can find it here:
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