Demis Hassabis says he expects AGI within two to three years, down from his three-to-five-year prediction earlier in 2026, and discusses AI's science potential

AGI may arrive sooner than many expected, potentially changing the pace of innovation and disruption.

Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind, has revised his timeline for achieving Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). He now anticipates AGI could emerge within two to three years, a significant acceleration from his previous prediction of three to five years made earlier in 2026. Hassabis expressed these views in a recent discussion, where he also highlighted the immense potential of AI to accelerate scientific discovery. He cited examples like protein folding and fusion energy control as areas where AI is already making substantial contributions. This updated timeline suggests a belief in the rapidly increasing pace of AI development and its transformative capabilities across various scientific domains.

Hassabis's revised timeline indicates a growing confidence within leading AI labs about the feasibility and speed of AGI development. This acceleration could signal a new phase of AI capabilities, moving beyond narrow task performance to more general problem-solving and creative functions. The potential for AI to expedite scientific breakthroughs is a critical implication, suggesting that fields from medicine to materials science could see unprecedented progress. Companies and research institutions that are not prepared for such rapid advancement may find themselves at a significant disadvantage.

This development forces a re-evaluation of AI's impact on research and development cycles across all industries. The convergence of powerful AI models with scientific inquiry could lead to a profound restructuring of how discovery and innovation occur. Stakeholders should anticipate increased competition and a faster pace of technological change, necessitating agile strategies for adaptation and integration of emerging AI-driven insights.