Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google, made an unexpected return to the spotlight at the recent Google I/O 2025 developer conference. During the first day of the event, a fireside chat featuring Demis Hassabis, CEO of DeepMind, was scheduled, but Brin joined him on stage, adding a sense of surprise to the session. The discussion primarily focused on advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), including the new Gemini tools and the potential trajectory toward achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI).
Brin and Hassabis Discuss AGI
The engaging conversation among Brin, Hassabis, and moderator Alex Kantrowitz from Big Technology was live-streamed on YouTube on May 21. A key topic during the discussion was the concept of AGI and Google’s perspective on it.
Hassabis noted that AGI represents an aspirational framework illustrating the capabilities of the human brain. Human beings, equipped with the same neurological foundation, can perform a diverse array of tasks, ranging from creative endeavors to scientific research and genuine innovation. In contrast, current AI models struggle with this breadth of functionality. Some models are meticulously trained for specific tasks, while more generalized models tend to be mediocre across various applications.
“It’s evident to me that today’s systems lack that level of capability. Additionally, I believe the current hype surrounding AGI is somewhat misplaced, as our systems have yet to demonstrate the consistency required for full generality, despite being relatively versatile,” Hassabis remarked.
Despite this, Hassabis remains optimistic about the future of AGI, citing a few obstacles that existing AI systems face, including reasoning, creative invention, and the precision of their world models. He suggested that AGI might be attainable with “one or two more breakthroughs.”
When questioned about the timeline for achieving AGI—specifically whether it would happen before or after 2030—Brin confidently replied, “Before.” In contrast, Hassabis offered a more cautious perspective, stating, “Just after.” Brin further emphasized the company’s commitment, asserting, “We fully intend that Gemini will be the very first AGI.”
Brin’s enthusiasm for AGI is reflected in his decision to return from retirement in 2023, aiming to secure a competitive edge for Google in the burgeoning AI sector. He explained, “As a computer scientist, this is a truly remarkable moment in history. Honestly, anyone in this field should not be retired at this time but actively working on AI.”
