# Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis said his original motivation for entering AI was to harness the world’s data to tackle fundamental questions.

*robotics · news · 2026-04-12 · The Economic Times*

## Key points

- Demis Hassabis originally envisioned AI primarily as a tool for scientific discovery, not consumer products.
- The viral launch of ChatGPT in November 2022 forced the entire AI industry to accelerate its pace.
- Many AI labs, including Google, had ChatGPT-like systems but underestimated their immediate usefulness to the public.
- Hassabis warns that current AI safety guardrails may be insufficient as systems become more autonomous and powerful.

**Companies:** Google
**Countries:** United States

[Read the full story on The Economic Times](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/artificial-intelligence/demis-hassabis-ai-was-meant-to-cure-cancer-now-its-a-commercial-race/articleshow/130204487.cms)

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