TechCheck Top AI scientists spar over AGI 12/23/25
Dec 23, 2025
Deirdre Bosa, a tech reporter for CNBC, dives into a fiery debate between AI titans Yann LeCun and Demis Hassabis. The core issue? Whether AI can ever reach human-level intelligence. LeCun dismisses the notion of general intelligence, while Hassabis argues that large models are making strides toward it. Bosa explores the financial implications of their viewpoints—big investments at stake and uncertain market futures as 2026 approaches. The discussion covers scaling laws and the differing needs of AI models, making for a captivating analysis of AI's future.
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Scaling Versus World Models
- The debate centers on whether scaling current large models yields general intelligence or if a new approach is required.
- Yann LeCun argues scale won't suffice and world models need different methods to teach machines how the world works.
Stakes For The AI CapEx Bet
- If Demis Hassabis and proponents of scale are right, today's capex bets on chips and data centers remain justified.
- If LeCun is right, much current AI infrastructure spending may be premature and payoffs delayed.
Top Scientists Publicly Split
- Deirdre Bosa recounts the split between Demis Hassabis and Yann LeCun at the top of AI.
- She notes LeCun left Meta and publicly challenged the dominant scaling narrative.