#299 – Demis Hassabis: DeepMind

569 snips

Jul 1, 2022

Demis Hassabis, CEO and co-founder of DeepMind, discusses groundbreaking advancements in AI, including AlphaGo and AlphaFold. He explores the creative dynamics of chess and the role of AI in game design, highlighting its potential for innovation. The conversation delves into the implications of AI in biology and ethics, emphasizing the need for humility in developing sentient systems. Hassabis reflects on the intersection of AI with creativity and the philosophical questions surrounding existence and reality, making for an engaging dialogue on the future of intelligence.

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ANECDOTE

First Computer

Demis Hassabis bought his first computer, a ZX Spectrum, at eight years old with chess winnings.
This sparked his love for programming and computers, viewing them as an extension of the mind.

ANECDOTE

Early AI

As a child, Hassabis captained England junior chess teams and considered becoming a professional player.
He wrote his first AI program for Othello at 12, inspired by chess computers.

INSIGHT

Games as AI Testing Grounds

Games offer clear metrics, human benchmarks, and efficient simulation for AI development.
DeepMind uses games as testing grounds, benefiting from established rules and scoring.

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