Google got a slow start with generative AI after seemingly being caught flat-footed by Microsoft’s Copilot reveal. Now, Google is at the forefront of AI development (for better or worse), but new cracks are beginning to show. Hassabis was one of the founders of DeepMind, and he maintained a key leadership role after Google acquired it. In his memo announcing his decision to leave DeepMind, Hassabis again leans on the promise of AGI. “I’ve been working towards AGI my whole life and now, like many of you, I feel it is close at hand,” said Hassabis.