In a bold prediction that blends science fiction with emerging technology, DeepMind CEO and Nobel Prize-winning chemist Demis Hassabis has claimed that humanity could begin colonising the galaxy as early as 2030, with artificial intelligence (AI) serving as the primary catalyst for this unprecedented leap.
Speaking to WIRED, Hassabis said the world is on the brink of a “golden era,” driven by the power of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) — AI that matches or surpasses human-level cognitive abilities. “If everything goes well, then we should be in an era of radical abundance,” he stated, envisioning a future where AGI addresses root challenges like disease, energy, and longevity, unlocking a renaissance in human civilisation.
“If that all happens, then it should be an era of maximum human flourishing, where we travel to the stars and colonise the galaxy. I think that will begin to happen in 2030,” he said.
While the vision of interstellar travel within this decade may seem far-fetched, Hassabis argues that AI will soon enable humanity to accomplish what was once the stuff of science fiction. He believes AI tools will turbocharge innovation and productivity to such an extent that problems previously deemed insurmountable will become solvable.
But Hassabis also acknowledged the risks. Despite his optimism, he has repeatedly warned that society is ill-prepared for the coming AI revolution. “It’s a sort of probability distribution. But it’s coming, either way it’s coming very soon,” he noted. He emphasised the need to think through the implications of AGI, especially around control, access, and safety.
To safeguard humanity’s future alongside AGI, Hassabis reiterated his call for the creation of a global regulatory body, comparing it to institutions like CERN or the United Nations. “I would advocate for a kind of CERN for AGI… a kind of international research-focused, high-end collaboration on the frontiers of AGI development to try and make that as safe as possible,” he said.
