The Unexpected AI Journey of Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis: From Chess Master to Nobel Prize Winner
The journey of Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis into the world of artificial intelligence had an unexpected start – his early mastery of chess. Before receiving the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for creating an AI program that predicted protein structures, Hassabis was a child chess champion who started playing the game at the age of four. By age 13, he was already a chess master competing against adults in international competitions.
In a recent lecture at the University of Cambridge, Hassabis, now 48, shared how his passion for chess got him thinking about the mental processes behind complex thoughts. He was fascinated by how the mind comes up with plans and ideas, sparking his interest in exploring the intricacies of thinking itself.
Hassabis’ first exposure to programming was through an electronic chess computer as a child. Instead of testing out different chess strategies, he was more intrigued by how the computer worked and how it was programmed to play chess. This fascination led him to start building AI programs on an early home computer in his early teens, solidifying his dedication to advancing the field of artificial intelligence.
Co-founding AI company DeepMind in 2010, which was later acquired by Google for over $500 million in 2014, Hassabis went on to invent AlphaZero in 2017. This AI algorithm became the strongest chess player ever after just four hours of playing against itself, surpassing human chess masters.
In 2024, Hassabis was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for creating AlphaFold2, an AI model that accurately predicted the complex structures of millions of proteins within minutes. The AlphaFold Protein Structure Database, which makes these structures freely available, has revolutionized research in areas like Parkinson’s treatments and antibiotic resistance.
During his lecture, Hassabis discussed the potential of AI to speed up drug development from years to minutes, potentially reducing costs significantly. He also shared his belief that artificial intelligence will surpass human intelligence within the next decade, highlighting the rapid advancements in the field.
Demis Hassabis’ journey from a chess prodigy to a pioneering figure in artificial intelligence showcases the power of passion, curiosity, and dedication in shaping groundbreaking innovations that have the potential to transform the world.