Jeff Dean on AGI: Ethics and Responsibility in Silicon Valley
parijs, donderdag, 11 september 2025.
During a conference in Paris, Jeff Dean, leader of Google AI, discussed the company’s cautious approach to Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). He emphasised the ethical challenges and the need for responsible development, taking into account the impact on society. Dean proposes that an international framework be established for the development and implementation of AGI, to minimise risks and maximise benefits.
Ethical Challenges and Responsible Development
Jeff Dean, the leader of Google AI, highlighted during a conference in Paris the serious ethical challenges associated with the development of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). According to Dean, it is crucial that tech companies and governments collaborate to establish an international framework that minimises the risks of AGI and maximises the benefits [1]. Dean states that the complexity of AGI problems can differ by a factor of a billion, making caution essential [2].
International Cooperation and Regulation
Dean advocates for transparency and cooperation between tech companies and governments in the development of AGI. He proposes that an international framework be set up to regulate the development and implementation of AGI. This framework should focus on aligning AI systems with human values and ethical principles to prevent the misuse of this technology [1].
Predictions and Skepticism
Opinions on when AGI will become a reality vary widely. While some experts, such as Demis Hassabis of DeepMind and Dario Amodei of Anthropic, expect a breakthrough within five to ten years, others, like Geoffrey Hinton and Andrew Ng, are much more cautious. Hinton cites a range of five to twenty years, while Ng and Yann LeCun believe that AGI will more likely result from a series of small, gradual steps [2].
Impact on Society and the Economy
Dean also discusses the potential impact of AGI on society and the economy. He stresses the importance of continuous evaluation and regulation to minimise the risks of AGI. Dean proposes that an international framework be established to regulate the development and implementation of AGI, ensuring that the technology benefits humanity [1].
Concrete Steps by Google
Google has announced that it will take concrete steps within the year to put these principles into practice. This includes setting up an ethics committee to oversee the development and implementation of AI projects. Additionally, Google will publish a detailed white paper on ethical AI guidelines by the end of 2025 [3].