AI’s Bold Future in Healthcare
Demis Hassabis, CEO and co-founder of Google DeepMind, has made a sweeping prediction: AI could cure all diseases—possibly within the next ten years. In an interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes, Hassabis discussed how artificial intelligence is advancing on an “exponential curve,” rapidly transforming drug discovery, disease diagnosis, and treatment.
Drug Discovery: From Years to Weeks
Traditionally, it takes 10 years and billions of dollars to bring a new drug to market. But with AI, Hassabis says that timeline could shrink to months or even weeks. “It sounds incredible today, but so did the idea of mapping protein structures,” he added.
DeepMind’s AlphaFold project famously mapped over 200 million protein structures in just one year—a task that would’ve taken “a billion years of PhD time.” These structures are key to understanding how diseases develop and how drugs can target them more precisely.
“Why Not Cure All Diseases?”
When asked if AI could eliminate all diseases, Hassabis responded confidently:
“I think that’s within reach. Maybe within the next decade or so, I don’t see why not.”
His comment sparked enthusiasm in the tech community. Aravind Srinivas, CEO of rival AI firm Perplexity, publicly praised Hassabis on X (formerly Twitter), calling him a genius who should be given “all resources in the world” to realize this vision.
Risks, Caution & Ethical Alignment
Despite his optimism, Hassabis acknowledged AI’s darker side. He emphasized the need to keep AI aligned with human values and under human control. “Can we make sure these systems benefit society and stay on guardrails?” he asked, highlighting the importance of responsible innovation.
A New Era of Medical Miracles?
Whether it’s designing life-saving drugs faster, decoding diseases, or even curing the incurable, Hassabis sees AI as a tool to unlock the deepest medical mysteries. His vision: a future where AI doesn’t just power our devices—but heals humanity.
