AI Will End Disease, Says Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis

Artificial intelligence is developing more rapidly than anyone could have envisioned—and according to Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis, its next great milestone could be nothing less than "the end of disease."

During a recent 60 Minutes interview, Hassabis described his grand vision for the future of AI. The Nobel laureate in chemistry, whom CBS News described as someone who "may hold the cards to our future," is optimistic that AI is progressing on an exponential trajectory. "It's moving incredibly fast," he said, citing a surge of talent, money, and attention over the past few years as major drivers.

AI Will Eradicate Disease From The Earth

One of the most exciting possibilities he raised? AI could radically speed up drug discovery. “On average, it takes 10 years and billions of dollars to design just one drug,” he noted. “We can maybe reduce that down from years to maybe months—or even weeks.” He believes that in the next decade, AI could help us understand and treat diseases at a level previously thought impossible.

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“It sounds incredible today,” he admitted. “But that’s also what people used to think about mapping protein structures.” DeepMind’s work on AlphaFold, an AI system that cracked a decades-old problem in biology by predicting protein structures, has already revolutionized the field. Hassabis believes the same type of breakthroughs could soon apply to medicine in a much broader sense.

Asked directly whether he thinks AI could help achieve the large-scale “end of disease,” Hassabis responded confidently: “I think that’s within reach—maybe within the next decade or so. I don’t see why not.”

Can We Control AI

Hassabis also talked about the broader potential of AI, including the idea of creating “radical abundance”—a future where resources are no longer scarce because AI makes everything more efficient and accessible. But with these opportunities come serious risks.

“There are two major concerns I have,” he explained. “One is bad actors—people misusing these systems for harmful purposes. The other is the AI systems themselves. As they become more autonomous and powerful, can we still keep them under control? Will they stay aligned with human values and serve the greater good?”

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Despite the dangers, Hassabis is optimistic that with the proper safeguards and ethical guidelines, AI can be one of humanity's most valuable tools. His vision inspired admiration from others in the technology industry. Aravind Srinivas, Perplexity AI founder and CEO, referred to Hassabis as a "genius" on X (formerly Twitter) and stated, "He should be given all resources in the world to make this happen."

Hassabis acknowledged the compliment, replying, “Thanks Aravind!” He also shared the interview link on his social media and reinforced his lifelong belief in AI’s potential. “I’ve always believed AI could be the ultimate tool to help us advance scientific progress and better understand the universe around us,” he wrote. “And perhaps one day, even solve all disease.”

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