STEM Skills Remain Key to Leveraging AI, Says Google DeepMind CEO
Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis has addressed concerns among fresh tech graduates about artificial intelligence replacing their jobs, offering a perspective that emphasizes the enduring value of STEM education. Speaking at a London business conference, Hassabis argued that understanding the fundamentals of software engineering will allow individuals to use AI tools far more effectively.
“You absolutely needed to lean into STEM and computer science. It's just a higher-level programming language is the way you can think about what programming is going to become,” Hassabis said, as reported by Business Insider. “You're still going to need to know about architecting things and best software engineering practices. Those people who understand the deep technical, they'll be able to use these tools 10 times more effectively than people who don't have that technical knowledge.”
Hassabis, who co-founded DeepMind in 2010—later acquired by Google in 2014—stressed that AI will augment rather than replace human capability. Instead of rendering coding skills obsolete, AI will serve as a powerful productivity enhancer for those who already possess technical foundations.
The 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry winner also highlighted the growing importance of humanities and social sciences in an AI-driven world. “I also believe that the time is now for the humanities like philosophy, economics. I think we really need them in the world we're about to enter,” he added.
In addition to his comments on skills, Hassabis repeated his prediction that Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)—AI with human-level cognitive abilities—could be five to ten years away. “For me, it's this question of international standards and cooperation and also not just between countries, but also between companies and researchers as we get towards the final steps of AGI. And I think we are on the cusp of that. Maybe we are five to 10 years out. Some people say shorter, I wouldn't be surprised,” he said.
