Sir Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind, has urged immediate and comprehensive research into the risks of artificial intelligence (AI), emphasizing the need for “smart regulation” to address the most serious threats posed by increasingly autonomous systems. Speaking at the AI Impact Summit in Delhi, Sir Demis highlighted two major dangers: the misuse of AI by “bad actors” and the potential for humans to lose control as systems grow more powerful.

The summit has drawn delegates from over 100 countries, including tech leaders and world leaders. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for international collaboration to ensure AI benefits humanity, while the UK’s Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy stressed that political oversight must work “hand in hand” with tech companies to prioritize public safety.

Despite calls for global governance, the US has resisted coordinated regulation. White House technology adviser Michael Kratsios reiterated that AI adoption should not be hindered by bureaucratic control, a stance previously endorsed by the Trump administration. Sir Demis noted that keeping up with the pace of AI development is “the hard thing” for regulators, and that while DeepMind has an important role to play, it is “only one player in the ecosystem.”

Other tech leaders echoed the urgency for oversight. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, also called for “urgent regulation” during the summit. Sir Demis warned that while the US and Western countries are slightly ahead in the AI race, China could catch up in just months, emphasizing the responsibility to deploy AI boldly yet responsibly.

Looking forward, Sir Demis predicted that AI will become a “superpower” in enabling human creativity over the next decade. He highlighted the continued importance of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and maths) education, suggesting that technical knowledge will remain an advantage for using AI systems effectively. He also noted that as AI takes on coding and technical tasks, human creativity, taste, and judgment will become increasingly central to innovation.

The AI Impact Summit, the largest global gathering of tech leaders and policymakers to date, is set to conclude with a joint statement from companies and nations outlining a shared approach to managing the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence.