Demis Hassabis has been appointed Chair of Google DeepMind and Chief Scientist of Alphabet, according to a report from Crypto Briefing. The move places the AI pioneer in a broader oversight role across the parent company's research and safety efforts. Hassabis, who co-founded DeepMind in 2010 and led it through its acquisition by Google in 2014, now holds two of the most influential positions in the field.
What the new roles mean
As Chair of Google DeepMind, Hassabis will oversee the lab's strategic direction. His new title as Chief Scientist of Alphabet gives him a company-wide remit on AI research and safety. The announcement didn't specify whether he'll retain his previous CEO title or how the management structure will shift.
Hassabis has been a vocal advocate for responsible AI development. His elevation could signal that Alphabet is prioritizing safety standards and long-term research over short-term product pushes. The timing comes as regulators globally are scrutinizing AI systems more closely.
No further details on reporting lines or specific policy changes have been released. The industry will be watching for any shifts in DeepMind's research priorities or its relationship with Google's product teams.
