Global AI regulation hindered by geopolitical divides: DeepMind CEO warns

Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google's DeepMind and a leading figure in artificial intelligence (AI) has emphasised the need for stronger international cooperation on AI regulation.

Speaking at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival, in London, Hassabis acknowledged the growing ethical concerns surrounding AI, including misinformation, job displacement, and the potential loss of human control over technology.

Hassabis, who has received a Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work related to AI, highlighted the risks posed by the emergence of artificial general intelligence (AGI), a future form of AI that could equal or surpass human intelligence.

“The most important thing is it’s got to be some form of international cooperation because the technology is across all borders. It’s going to get applied to all countries,” Hassabis noted.

“This technology transcends borders and will be applied globally. Many countries are engaged in research, building data centers, and deploying AI systems, so any meaningful regulation must be global in scope,” he noted.

However, he admitted that such cooperation remains challenging in today’s fractured geopolitical climate.

To note, in February, 58 countries, including China, India, France, and representatives from the European Union (EU) and the African Union Commission, participated in an AI summit in Paris and called for closer global coordination on AI oversight.

However, the US expressed concerns about over-regulation, with Vice President JD Vance warning it could hinder the development of a transformative industry.

The UK also declined to sign the summit's declaration supporting “open,” “inclusive,” and “ethical” AI development.