Google DeepMind CEO declares 'foothills of the singularity' at I/O 2026
Hassabis says AGI is near, unveils Gemini for Science tools for drug discovery.
At Google I/O 2026, DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis delivered a philosophical closing keynote, declaring that humanity is standing in the 'foothills of the singularity.' He redefined the term to mean the arrival of full AGI (artificial general intelligence), diverging from the classic Kurzweil definition of superhuman intelligence leading to runaway technological growth. Hassabis called this a 'profound moment for humanity' and an opportunity for a 'new golden age of scientific discovery.'
Just before this proclamation, Hassabis introduced Gemini for Science, a suite of tools and experiments within Google Labs and Google Antigravity designed to assist scientific research. He stated Google aims to 'reimagine drug discovery with the goal of one day solving all disease.' This announcement aligns with Hassabis's earlier prediction in a Bloomberg interview that there is a '50 percent chance of getting there by 2030.' The combination of philosophical certainty and concrete research tools signals Google's aggressive push toward AGI.
- Hassabis redefined the 'singularity' as the arrival of full AGI, not the traditional Kurzweil definition.
- He introduced Gemini for Science, tools aimed at accelerating drug discovery and potentially eradicating disease.
- Hassabis previously stated a 50% probability of achieving AGI by 2030, making this claim more concrete.
Why It Matters
AGI claims from top lab leaders signal imminent breakthroughs, potentially transforming scientific research and drug discovery.