DeepMind CEO Hassabis: AI key to scientific discovery at India Summit

Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind, delivered a keynote address at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 on August 2, spotlighting artificial intelligence as a pivotal force for scientific advancement. Hassabis praised the summit for bringing together global leaders and researchers, calling it a crucial platform for international cooperation in AI development. His speech emphasized that the technology's full transformative potential can only be unlocked through cross-border collaboration and shared knowledge.

Drawing on DeepMind's legacy—which includes pioneering AI systems like AlphaFold—Hassabis painted a future where AI accelerates discovery across biology, chemistry, and materials science. He encouraged governments, academia, and industry to align on ethical frameworks and open research efforts. The India setting was significant: the country is rapidly emerging as an AI innovator, and Hassabis' keynote signals a commitment to engaging with local talent and ecosystems. The summit serves as a beacon for how nations can jointly steer AI toward solving humanity's biggest challenges.