Demis Hassabis

Demis Hassabis is a British artificial intelligence researcher and entrepreneur who co-founded DeepMind and leads Google DeepMind as chief executive officer. His leadership in AlphaFold's protein-structure-prediction research was recognised with a share of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

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About Demis Hassabis

Profile information current to 2026-08-22.

United Kingdom · Artificial intelligence researcher, Entrepreneur, Chief executive officer · 2 affiliations

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Also known as: Sir Demis Hassabis
Known for: Artificial intelligence; Protein structure prediction; Machine learning for scientific discovery
Country: United Kingdom

Artificial intelligence researcher
Entrepreneur
Chief executive officer

At a glance

Hassabis is co-founder and chief executive officer of Google DeepMind.
He received one quarter of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for protein structure prediction.
He led and co-conceived the research project behind the 2021 Nature paper describing AlphaFold's highly accurate protein-structure predictions.
The Royal Society identifies him as best known for developing AlphaGo, the first program to defeat a world champion at Go.
His background combines computer science, cognitive neuroscience, computer-game development and artificial intelligence research.

Education and early career

Born in London in 1976, Hassabis studied computer science at the University of Cambridge and completed a PhD in cognitive neuroscience at University College London in 2009 under Professor Eleanor Maguire. Before founding DeepMind, he worked in the computer-games industry, programmed Theme Park at age 17 and founded Elixir Studios.

DeepMind and Google leadership

Hassabis co-founded DeepMind in 2010. Google acquired the company in January 2014, and in April 2023 DeepMind was combined with Google Research's Brain team to form Google DeepMind, with Hassabis announced as the new unit's leader. Current Google DeepMind and Royal Society pages identify him as its co-founder and chief executive officer.

Artificial intelligence and scientific work

Hassabis's work has included AlphaGo and the use of machine learning for scientific discovery. He was an author and co-corresponding author of the 2021 Nature paper on AlphaFold; the paper's contribution statement says he led and co-conceived the research project with colleagues. The work demonstrated highly accurate protein-structure prediction and became the basis for his share of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Honours and recognition

Hassabis was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2018. In March 2024, the UK government announced the King's intention to confer a Knight Bachelor honour on him for services to artificial intelligence. Later that year, he and John Jumper shared the protein-structure-prediction half of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, with each receiving one quarter of the overall prize.

Affiliations

Google DeepMind Co-founder and chief executive officer present
The Royal Society Fellow 2018–present

Timeline

1976-07-27 Born in London, United Kingdom.
2009 Completed a PhD in cognitive neuroscience at University College London.
2010 Co-founded DeepMind.
2014-01 DeepMind was acquired by Google.
2018 Elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.
2021-07-15 Published, with the AlphaFold team, a Nature paper reporting highly accurate protein structure prediction with AlphaFold.
2023-04-20 DeepMind and Google Research's Brain team were combined as Google DeepMind, with Hassabis announced as leader of the new unit.
2024-03 Named for a Knight Bachelor honour for services to artificial intelligence.
2024 Received a share of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for protein structure prediction.

Additional verified details

Current context

Demis Hassabis is listed as co-founder and chief executive officer of Google DeepMind. Supported by current Google DeepMind and Royal Society pages. A GOV.UK biographical page uses a different, apparently older role description.

Biographical facts

Hassabis was born on 27 July 1976 in London, United Kingdom.
He studied computer science as an undergraduate at the University of Cambridge and graduated in computer science.
He completed a PhD in cognitive neuroscience at University College London in 2009 under Professor Eleanor Maguire.
Before DeepMind, he worked in the computer-games industry and founded Elixir Studios. The Royal Society records that he programmed Theme Park at age 17.
Hassabis co-founded DeepMind in 2010.
DeepMind was acquired by Google in January 2014.
The Royal Society identifies Hassabis as best known for developing AlphaGo, described as the first program to beat a world champion at Go.
Hassabis was an author and co-corresponding author of the 2021 Nature paper describing AlphaFold. Its author-contribution statement says he led and co-conceived the research project with colleagues.
He received one quarter of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for protein structure prediction. John Jumper received the other quarter allocated to the protein-structure-prediction half of the prize.
Hassabis was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2018.
In March 2024, the UK government announced the King's intention to confer a Knight Bachelor honour on Hassabis for services to artificial intelligence.