The rise of artificial intelligence has already begun to change the shape of the modern workplace, with some companies quietly slowing down hiring in areas where machines can now carry out the work. Yet, while this shift has caused uncertainty, DeepMind’s co-founder and chief executive, Demis Hassabis, believes it will also bring a new generation of skilled, highly valuable jobs.
Speaking at the SXSW festival in London, Hassabis said the pace of AI development could rival the impact of the Industrial Revolution, but he remains confident that people will adapt. In his view, the disruption will open the door to new roles—particularly for those who understand how to work with AI, rather than resist it.
Several tech firms, including Google, Meta and Microsoft, have already started relying on AI tools to handle tasks like code generation, which would traditionally fall to software engineers. As this kind of automation becomes more common, some job categories may shrink, especially in areas where repetitive or structured tasks can be handled by machines with minimal supervision.
Even so, Hassabis expects new kinds of work to emerge around these technologies. Those who learn how the systems operate—and how to apply them in practical ways—could find themselves at the forefront of a changing economy. He pointed out that individuals with a background in science, mathematics or computing are likely to play a crucial role in shaping what comes next, particularly because they understand the mechanics that underpin the tools.
Looking further ahead, he believes that children growing up now will become fluent in AI in much the same way earlier generations grew up fluent in the internet. This familiarity, he suggests, will allow them to engage with intelligent systems far more naturally, although he still sees strong technical foundations as essential for anyone hoping to work in the field.
He also encouraged people, regardless of age or background, to explore AI systems hands-on—trying out the latest tools, building small projects, and seeing where they can be used in creative or unexpected ways. For Hassabis, the people who engage with AI directly will be the ones best prepared for the new types of work it will create.
At Google’s recent developer event, Hassabis appeared alongside co-founder Sergey Brin to discuss the future of artificial general intelligence—the point at which machines are thought to reach or surpass human-level understanding. Both suggested that this breakthrough could arrive by the end of the decade, although they acknowledged the uncertainty that comes with predicting such a complex milestone.
For now, the immediate impact is clear. AI is not waiting for some distant future; it’s already reshaping the way work is done, and in many industries, it’s doing so at speed. But rather than focus solely on what may be lost, Hassabis is urging people to look at what could be gained—provided they’re willing to learn, adapt, and take part in shaping what comes next.
Image: Google for Developer Youtube
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Speaking at the SXSW festival in London, Hassabis said the pace of AI development could rival the impact of the Industrial Revolution, but he remains confident that people will adapt. In his view, the disruption will open the door to new roles—particularly for those who understand how to work with AI, rather than resist it.
Several tech firms, including Google, Meta and Microsoft, have already started relying on AI tools to handle tasks like code generation, which would traditionally fall to software engineers. As this kind of automation becomes more common, some job categories may shrink, especially in areas where repetitive or structured tasks can be handled by machines with minimal supervision.
Even so, Hassabis expects new kinds of work to emerge around these technologies. Those who learn how the systems operate—and how to apply them in practical ways—could find themselves at the forefront of a changing economy. He pointed out that individuals with a background in science, mathematics or computing are likely to play a crucial role in shaping what comes next, particularly because they understand the mechanics that underpin the tools.
Looking further ahead, he believes that children growing up now will become fluent in AI in much the same way earlier generations grew up fluent in the internet. This familiarity, he suggests, will allow them to engage with intelligent systems far more naturally, although he still sees strong technical foundations as essential for anyone hoping to work in the field.
He also encouraged people, regardless of age or background, to explore AI systems hands-on—trying out the latest tools, building small projects, and seeing where they can be used in creative or unexpected ways. For Hassabis, the people who engage with AI directly will be the ones best prepared for the new types of work it will create.
At Google’s recent developer event, Hassabis appeared alongside co-founder Sergey Brin to discuss the future of artificial general intelligence—the point at which machines are thought to reach or surpass human-level understanding. Both suggested that this breakthrough could arrive by the end of the decade, although they acknowledged the uncertainty that comes with predicting such a complex milestone.
For now, the immediate impact is clear. AI is not waiting for some distant future; it’s already reshaping the way work is done, and in many industries, it’s doing so at speed. But rather than focus solely on what may be lost, Hassabis is urging people to look at what could be gained—provided they’re willing to learn, adapt, and take part in shaping what comes next.
Image: Google for Developer Youtube
Read next: WhatsApp Moves Toward Enhanced Privacy and Message Control with Usernames and Partial Text Selection
