DeepMind CEO Emphasizes 'Learning How to Learn' as Crucial Skill in AI Era

Google's top AI scientist says 'learning how to learn' will be next generation's most needed skill

ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- A top Google scientist and 2024 Nobel laureate said Friday that the most important skill for the next generation will be "learning how to learn" to keep pace with change as Artificial Intelligence transforms education and the workplace. Speaking at an ancient Roman theater at the foot of the Acropolis in Athens, Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google's DeepMind, said rapid technological change demands a new approach to learning and skill development. "It's very hard to predict the future, like 10 years from now, in normal cases. It's even harder today, given how fast AI is changing, even week by week," Hassabis told the audience. "The only thing you can say for certain is that huge change is coming." The neuroscientist and former chess prodigy said artificial general intelligence -- a futuristic vision of machines that are as broadly smart as humans or at least can do many things as well as people can -- could arrive within a decade. This, he said, will bring dramatic advances and a possible future of "radical abundance" despite acknowledged risks. Hassabis emphasized the need for "meta-skills," such as understanding how to learn and optimizing one's approach to new subjects, alongside traditional disciplines like math, science and humanities. "One thing we'll know for sure is you're going to have to continually learn ... throughout your career," he said. The DeepMind co-founder, who established the London-based research lab in 2010 before Google acquired it four years later, shared the 2024 Nobel Prize in chemistry for developing AI systems that accurately predict protein folding -- a breakthrough for medicine and drug discovery. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis joined Hassabis at the Athens event after discussing ways to expand AI use in government services. Mitsotakis warned that the continued growth of huge tech companies could create great global financial inequality. "Unless people actually see benefits, personal benefits, to this (AI) revolution, they will tend to become very skeptical," he said. "And if they see ... obscene wealth being created within very few companies, this is a recipe for significant social unrest." Mitsotakis thanked Hassabis, whose father is Greek Cypriot, for rescheduling the presentation to avoid conflicting with the European basketball championship semifinal between Greece and Turkey. Greece later lost the game 94-68.

AI is transforming the future of learning and jobs, says Google DeepMind CEO and Nobel laureate

Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. Big quote: AI is transforming education and the workforce, creating a demand for new skills and strategies. That was the key message from Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind and recipient of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, when he addressed an audience gathered at the historic Roman theater beneath the Acropolis in Athens. Hassabis, a neuroscientist recognized for his groundbreaking work on AI-driven protein folding models, pointed to the growing need for individuals to master the process of learning itself. "It's very hard to predict the future, like 10 years from now, in normal cases. It's even harder today, given how fast AI is changing, even week by week," he said. With technology evolving at a breakneck pace, Hassabis urged educators and workers to cultivate "meta-skills" - the capacity to adapt learning methods and acquire new expertise as disciplines evolve. "The only thing you can say for certain is that huge change is coming," Hassabis told the Athens audience. He argued that the ability to continually acquire new knowledge will soon be more valuable than static mastery of traditional subjects such as mathematics, science, or the humanities. "One thing we'll know for sure is you're going to have to continually learn ... throughout your career," he said. An artist's illustration of AI, created by digital artist Nejc Polovsak and DeepMind Hassabis's remarks come amid growing speculation about the timeline for artificial general intelligence, or AGI, the point at which machines can reason and learn as broadly as humans. He suggested that AGI could emerge within a decade, a development he said could bring dramatic advances and a "future of radical abundance." However, he also cautioned that this progress would come with significant risks and ongoing debates about its ethical and economic implications. As the head of DeepMind, Hassabis has led research into algorithms that predict protein folding with unprecedented accuracy, paving the way for medical breakthroughs and drug discovery. These achievements earned him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry alongside other leaders in AI-driven research. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis appeared with Hassabis, stressing the importance of ensuring that technological progress delivers real, personal benefits to citizens rather than widening global inequality. "Unless people actually see personal benefits from this AI revolution, they will tend to become very skeptical," he said. Mitsotakis warned that unchecked growth and concentration of wealth within leading technology companies could sow social discord if tech-driven prosperity fails to reach everyday people. The event, which Hassabis rescheduled to avoid conflicting with the European basketball championship semifinal between Greece and Turkey, ended with an update on the game's outcome. Greece lost to Turkey by a score of 94 - 68, but the focus of the evening remained on the ways AI's latest wave both promises and challenges a rapidly changing world. Image credit: The Associated Press

DeepMind CEO says learning how to learn is the key skill for the AI era

Demis Hassabis, the CEO of Google's DeepMind and a 2024 Nobel laureate, said that "learning how to learn" will be the most critical skill for the next generation as artificial intelligence transforms education and work. He made the comments during a discussion in Athens, Greece, with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis about the implications of AI and its use in government. Hassabis, a neuroscientist and former chess prodigy, explained that the rapid pace of AI development, which advances weekly, makes it difficult to anticipate future changes. "It's very hard to predict the future, like 10 years from now, in normal cases. It's even harder today, given how fast AI is changing, even week by week." He projected that artificial general intelligence (AGI) -- machines with broad, human-like intelligence -- could emerge within the next decade. This could lead to a future of "radical abundance," he said, while also acknowledging the risks associated with such powerful systems. To adapt to these changes, Hassabis recommended focusing on meta-skills, such as understanding the process of learning and how to approach new subjects. He emphasized that these abilities should supplement foundational knowledge in areas like math, science, and the humanities. One thing we'll know for sure is you're going to have to continually learn ... throughout your career. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who joined Hassabis for the discussion, raised concerns about the economic and social consequences of unchecked AI growth. He warned that if AI concentrates wealth within a few large technology companies, it could lead to significant social friction. And if they see ... obscene wealth being created within very few companies, this is a recipe for significant social unrest. He also stressed that for the public to accept AI, they must see tangible, personal benefits from its implementation. The discussion also covered strategies for using AI to improve public administration and government services in Greece.

Google's top AI scientist says 'learning how to learn' will be next generation's most needed skill

ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- A top Google scientist and 2024 Nobel laureate said Friday that the most important skill for the next generation will be "learning how to learn" to keep pace with change as Artificial Intelligence transforms education and the workplace. Speaking at an ancient Roman theater at the foot of the Acropolis in Athens, Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google's DeepMind, said rapid technological change demands a new approach to learning and skill development. "It's very hard to predict the future, like 10 years from now, in normal cases. It's even harder today, given how fast AI is changing, even week by week," Hassabis told the audience. "The only thing you can say for certain is that huge change is coming." The neuroscientist and former chess prodigy said artificial general intelligence -- a futuristic vision of machines that are as broadly smart as humans or at least can do many things as well as people can -- could arrive within a decade. This, he said, will bring dramatic advances and a possible future of "radical abundance" despite acknowledged risks. Hassabis emphasized the need for "meta-skills," such as understanding how to learn and optimizing one's approach to new subjects, alongside traditional disciplines like math, science and humanities. "One thing we'll know for sure is you're going to have to continually learn ... throughout your career," he said. The DeepMind co-founder, who established the London-based research lab in 2010 before Google acquired it four years later, shared the 2024 Nobel Prize in chemistry for developing AI systems that accurately predict protein folding -- a breakthrough for medicine and drug discovery. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis joined Hassabis at the Athens event after discussing ways to expand AI use in government services. Mitsotakis warned that the continued growth of huge tech companies could create great global financial inequality. "Unless people actually see benefits, personal benefits, to this (AI) revolution, they will tend to become very skeptical," he said. "And if they see ... obscene wealth being created within very few companies, this is a recipe for significant social unrest." Mitsotakis thanked Hassabis, whose father is Greek Cypriot, for rescheduling the presentation to avoid conflicting with the European basketball championship semifinal between Greece and Turkey. Greece later lost the game 94-68. ____ Kelvin Chan in London contributed to this story.

Google's Top AI Scientist Says 'Learning How to Learn' Will Be Next Generation's Most Needed Skill

ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- A top Google scientist and 2024 Nobel laureate said Friday that the most important skill for the next generation will be "learning how to learn" to keep pace with change as Artificial Intelligence transforms education and the workplace. Speaking at an ancient Roman theater at the foot of the Acropolis in Athens, Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google's DeepMind, said rapid technological change demands a new approach to learning and skill development. "It's very hard to predict the future, like 10 years from now, in normal cases. It's even harder today, given how fast AI is changing, even week by week," Hassabis told the audience. "The only thing you can say for certain is that huge change is coming." The neuroscientist and former chess prodigy said artificial general intelligence -- a futuristic vision of machines that are as broadly smart as humans or at least can do many things as well as people can -- could arrive within a decade. This, he said, will bring dramatic advances and a possible future of "radical abundance" despite acknowledged risks. Hassabis emphasized the need for "meta-skills," such as understanding how to learn and optimizing one's approach to new subjects, alongside traditional disciplines like math, science and humanities. "One thing we'll know for sure is you're going to have to continually learn ... throughout your career," he said. The DeepMind co-founder, who established the London-based research lab in 2010 before Google acquired it four years later, shared the 2024 Nobel Prize in chemistry for developing AI systems that accurately predict protein folding -- a breakthrough for medicine and drug discovery. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis joined Hassabis at the Athens event after discussing ways to expand AI use in government services. Mitsotakis warned that the continued growth of huge tech companies could create great global financial inequality. "Unless people actually see benefits, personal benefits, to this (AI) revolution, they will tend to become very skeptical," he said. "And if they see ... obscene wealth being created within very few companies, this is a recipe for significant social unrest." Mitsotakis thanked Hassabis, whose father is Greek Cypriot, for rescheduling the presentation to avoid conflicting with the European basketball championship semifinal between Greece and Turkey. Greece later lost the game 94-68. ____ Kelvin Chan in London contributed to this story.

Google's top AI scientist reveals the most important skill people will need to stay employable in the future, and it's not coding

Google's DeepMind CEO, Demis Hassabis, a 2024 Nobel laureate, emphasizes the importance of "learning how to learn" in the age of rapid AI advancements. He predicts significant changes and the potential arrival of artificial general intelligence within a decade, stressing the need for continuous learning throughout one's career. Google's top AI scientist has shared the most important skills people will need in the future to stay employable. Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google's DeepMind and 2024 Nobel laureate, said that the most important skill for the next generation will be "learning how to learn". Speaking at an ancient Roman theatre near the Acropolis, Hassabis said the fast pace of AI makes predicting the future extremely difficult. "It's very hard to predict the future, like 10 years from now, in normal cases. It's even harder today, given how fast AI is changing, even week by week," he said. "The only thing you can say for certain is that huge change is coming." Hassabis, a neuroscientist and former chess prodigy, said artificial general intelligence -- machines capable of performing many tasks at human level -- could arrive within a decade. He said this may bring major advances and a future of "radical abundance," though risks remain. He highlighted the need for "meta-skills," including learning how to learn and improving one's approach to new subjects, alongside traditional disciplines like math, science, and humanities. "One thing we'll know for sure is you're going to have to continually learn ... throughout your career," Hassabis said. Hassabis co-founded DeepMind in London in 2010, which Google acquired in 2014. He shared the 2024 Nobel Prize in chemistry for developing AI systems that accurately predict protein folding, a breakthrough in medicine and drug discovery. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis attended the event after discussing AI use in government services. Mitsotakis warned that the growth of large tech companies could increase global financial inequality. "Unless people actually see benefits, personal benefits, to this (AI) revolution, they will tend to become very sceptical," he said. "And if they see ... obscene wealth being created within very few companies, this is a recipe for significant social unrest." (Source:AP)