HASSABIS TARGETS 2029 FOR AGI, CALLS 2026 'PRACTICE RUN'

Hassabis outlined the timeline at Google's developer conference, positioning near-term AI milestones as stepping stones toward AGI. The 2026 agentic era—when AI systems gain increased autonomy and decision-making capabilities—represents an intermediate phase before AGI achieves full human-level intelligence across all domains. This framing suggests a staged progression rather than a sudden breakthrough. Hassabis's timeline aligns with industry expectations from other major AI leaders, though specific AGI definitions remain contested across the sector. The distinction between the agentic era and full AGI signals DeepMind's view that autonomous AI systems will emerge before achieving general intelligence parity with humans. Companies including OpenAI and Anthropic have similarly emphasized intermediate capabilities arriving before AGI. Hassabis's comments reflect ongoing confidence in rapid AI advancement while acknowledging technical challenges that could extend timelines.