DeepMind Founder Demis Hassabis Expects Artificial General Intelligence Within Two to Three Years

Demis Hassabis, Google DeepMind's chair and Alphabet's chief scientist, significantly accelerated his timeline for achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI) to two to three years, marking a dramatic shift from previous estimates, according to a Wall Street Journal profile published today. The AI pioneer, who stepped down from DeepMind's CEO role in August to focus on broader strategic matters, told the magazine "It's soon" when explaining the narrowed window, adding "I'm updating nearer and nearer." Just months earlier, Hassabis had placed AGI at three to five years away; at the start of 2026, he had suggested a five to ten year horizon.