Google's stark AI forecast: Human-like intelligence by 2030 may doom mankind

Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), seen as the next frontier in AI, goes beyond task-specific systems by enabling machines to learn, reason, and solve diverse problems independently, raising unprecedented ethical and safety concerns

Offering a cautionary glimpse into AI’s future, Google DeepMind has released a research paper cautioning that Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)—AI capable of human-level reasoning and adaptability—could emerge by 2030 and may pose existential threats if not carefully managed.

While the paper does not describe specific scenarios that could lead to global catastrophe, it clearly states that AGI has the potential to “permanently destroy humanity” if severe harms are realized. The report categorizes risks into four key areas: misuse by bad actors, misalignment with human goals, operational errors, and structural risks that could destabilize global systems.

Co-authored by DeepMind co-founder Shane Legg, the report stresses that defining and responding to such harms is not the sole responsibility of developers. “Determining what constitutes severe harm must be guided by society’s collective judgment and tolerance for risk,” it notes.

Global call for AGI oversight

As AI systems become increasingly autonomous and powerful, DeepMind urges a proactive focus on risk mitigation strategies. Its internal approach emphasizes misuse prevention, which includes building safeguards to prevent malicious or unintended applications of advanced AI technologies.

The urgency of this message is amplified by comments from DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis, who has long advocated for an international regulatory framework for AGI. Hassabis has suggested the creation of a “CERN for AGI” or a global governing body akin to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to monitor development and ensure safe deployment.

“We need a global institution—a technical UN, if you will—that brings together countries to collectively decide how AGI should be researched and applied,” Hassabis said in an earlier address.

AGI represents the next frontier of artificial intelligence, far surpassing current task-specific systems. Unlike conventional AI, AGI would have the capacity to think, learn, and solve problems across a wide variety of domains without human guidance. This leap in capability, while promising extraordinary advances, also brings with it unparalleled ethical and safety challenges.

As the race to build smarter machines intensifies, DeepMind’s paper adds to growing calls from the global AI community for transparency, cooperation, and regulation to ensure AGI enhances human progress—rather than jeopardizing it.