Demis Hassabis Predicts AI Revolution Will Surpass Industrial Revolution in Scale and Speed
Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind and a leading figure in artificial intelligence (AI), has forecasted a future in which AI advances will be “10 times bigger than the Industrial Revolution – and maybe 10 times faster.” This transformative period will radically reshape society, science, and the global economy within the next decade.
Speaking in various recent interviews and conferences, Hassabis outlined his vision where AI reaches what the sector calls Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), representing machines with human-level ability to understand, learn, and innovate independently. Unlike current AI systems that specialize in narrow tasks, AGI would generate novel scientific conjectures, solve complex problems, and revolutionize multiple domains simultaneously.
From Narrow AI to Broad Scientific Discovery
Hassabis highlighted that while DeepMind’s AlphaFold—the AI system for predicting protein structures—has made significant strides, it remains limited to narrow applications. The next milestone for AI is developing systems capable of independent curiosity, imagination, and intuition. These qualities will allow AI not only to solve scientific puzzles but to identify them autonomously, paving the way for unprecedented breakthroughs in medicine, climate science, and energy.
He stated, “I think actually in the next maybe five to ten years, we’ll have systems that are capable of not only solving an important problem or conjecture in science but coming up with it in the first place.” This could mean the end of many human diseases, largely automated scientific research, and zero-carbon energy that helps reverse climate change[1][2].
Speed and Scale: A Revolution Unlike Any Other
In a recent discussion with Lex Fridman, Hassabis emphasized that this AI revolution will dwarf the Industrial Revolution not only in scale but also pace. While the Industrial Revolution unfolded over a century, Hassabis expects AI-driven change to compress that timeline to about 10 years, resulting in combined impact approximately 100 times greater when considering speed and magnitude together.
He remarked, “We’re going to see something like probably 10 times the impact the Industrial Revolution had, but 10 times faster as well. So instead of 100 years, it takes 10 years”[3]. This rapid acceleration could mean society must adapt quickly to ubiquitous AI permeating all facets of life, from healthcare to manufacturing to environmental management.
Calls for Global Coordination and Responsible Development
Despite his optimism, Hassabis has expressed concerns about global preparedness for AGI’s arrival. At public forums such as SXSW London and the World Economic Forum in Davos, he has urged international cooperation to ensure AI development aligns with ethical safety measures and benefits broadly, warning that societies are not yet thinking enough about long-term consequences.
He envisions the next five to ten years as “monumental” and believes policymakers and technologists must work together deliberately to navigate the challenges of AGI[4]. As the CEO of DeepMind, a leader in advanced AI research, Hassabis is uniquely positioned to guide the technology’s direction and advocate for responsible innovation.
The Future of Knowledge and Discovery
Beyond immediate applications, Hassabis’ broader philosophical goal is to transform human knowledge itself. His journey from chess prodigy to AI pioneer reflects a mission to create tools that amplify human discovery. In a conversation at the Institute for Advanced Study in May 2025, he discussed how AI can reshape the nature of knowledge by accelerating breakthroughs and solving problems previously considered intractable by humans alone[5].
As AI systems grow in capability, they could fundamentally change how science is conducted, opening new frontiers in understanding and advancing human flourishing.
In sum, Demis Hassabis predicts an AI-powered future of “radical abundance,” where artificial intelligence is the key driver of innovation, peace, and sustainability. This new revolution, faster and larger than anything before, could mark the beginning of a new era in human history.