Google DeepMind CEO issues chilling warning about AI, says it will disrupt…

Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis has warned that Artificial Intelligence (AI) would disrupt jobs in tech industry in the next five years and urged future professionals to start adapting for an AI-driven world or be left left behind. “Just as the internet shaped millennials and smartphones defined Gen Z, generative AI is the hallmark of Gen Alpha. Over the next 5 to 10 years, I think we’re going to find what normally happens with big new technology shifts, which is that some jobs get disrupted. But new, more valuable, usually more interesting jobs get created,” Hassabis said while speaking on the ‘Hard Fork’ tech podcast.

Gen Alpha must adapt or perish

Demis Hassabis, who leads Google DeepMind, the tech giant’s advanced AI research lab that churns out its most high-end AI products, such as the improved Gemini chatbot, urged young people to get acquainted with AI tools and concepts as soon as they can because AI is here to stay and will be the competition in the coming future.

“Whatever happens with these AI tools, you’ll be better off understanding how they (AI tools) work, and how they function, and what you can do with them,” Hassabis said, urging students to “immerse yourself” in the latest technologies.

STEM still a crucial foundation

However, Hassabis cautioned that tech-savviness will not be enough in an AI-driven world, as he stressed on the immense value of a solid STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) foundation, especially coding skills. He also noted the importance of broader “meta skills” like creativity, adaptability, and resilience.

“These are the capabilities that will help the next generation thrive. Getting good at the basics of STEM is still crucial, but equally important is developing the mindset to navigate constant change,” he said.

Students must be proactive

Hassabis urged students to be proactive and curious, and recommended putting their spare time at school to good use by exploring fast-evolving fields and experiment with new tools beyond the formal curriculum. “Learn the basics through your formal education, but experiment in your spare time so you’re up to date when you graduate,” he advised.

Meanwhile, earlier this month, Demis Hassabis revealed that Google DeepMind was perhaps less than a decade away from building an Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)– a super AI which could theoretically be capable of human-level intelligence and reasoning, with some experts suggesting that such an AI might even be smarter than human beings.

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