Inside Google DeepMind's Reshuffle After CEO Demis Hassabis Steps Aside
Demis Hassabis' move to a new Google role is part of a broader DeepMind reorganization, according to people familiar with the changes, as leadership shifts and teams are restructured.
Google's artificial intelligence division DeepMind has announced a significant reshuffle in leadership following the departure of CEO Demis Hassabis. Hassabis will relinquish his role as CEO and take on a more advisory position as the chair of DeepMind and chief scientist at Google's parent company, Alphabet. This move is part of a broader restructuring effort by Google to keep pace with industry leaders like OpenAI and Anthropic.
In a staff note, Hassabis expressed his belief that artificial general intelligence (AGI) is approaching and decided to prioritize the big picture, emphasizing his role in shaping the future of AI. The decision came as a surprise to the AI industry, but some DeepMind employees found it logical, noting Hassabis' reduced involvement in Google's struggling AI model, Gemini, and increased focus on safety and societal implications of AGI.
Several changes accompany Hassabis' move. Lila Ibrahim, DeepMind's Chief AI Readiness Officer, will now report to James Manyika, a senior Google executive, while some safety teams previously under her jurisdiction will report to Kent Walker, Google's president of global affairs. Concerns have been raised about the potential loss of influence for teams focused on safety, responsibility, and ethics. However, a Google spokesperson clarified that the transition does not affect frontier AI safety.
Additionally, Comms, legal, and marketing teams from DeepMind will merge with those within Google, and Shane Legg, a DeepMind co-founder and chief AGI scientist, will continue reporting to Hassabis. Hassabis' successor at DeepMind will be Koray Kavukcuoglu, currently serving as the chief technology officer. Kavukcuoglu will assume the helm as DeepMind's senior vice president, a position he has held for some time and where he has been actively involved in Gemini's development.
Meanwhile, Hassabis' departure comes amid repeated delays for Gemini and a rapid loss of top talent at DeepMind. Notable departures include Jeff Dean, Google's long-time chief scientist, and John Jumper, who shared a Nobel Prize with Hassabis. Kavukcuoglu will continue to lead Gemini discussions and collaborate closely with safety and policy teams across Google and DeepMind.
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