In an evolving job landscape shaped by artificial intelligence, Demis Hassabis, the CEO of Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) (NASDAQ:GOOG) subsidiary Google’s DeepMind, suggests that mastering advanced AI tools may offer students a more promising path than traditional internships.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, Hassabis predicted that AI will begin to replace many junior and entry-level positions, including internships, as businesses automate routine tasks. This transition, he argues, challenges the previous model where students gained experience through repetitive tasks in large organizations.
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“If I were addressing a class of undergraduates today, I would advise them to become exceptionally skilled with these tools,” Hassabis stated, describing AI systems as “extraordinary creative resources” accessible to everyone. He emphasized that gaining in-depth experience and hands-on projects involving AI could be more advantageous than traditional internships, enabling graduates to “leapfrog” into professional readiness.
Hassabis has consistently maintained that, in an AI-transformed labor market, a candidate’s practical capabilities with technology are becoming more compelling to employers than brief experiences at prestigious firms.
However, he hasn’t completely strayed from conventional advice. At various speaking engagements, including SXSW London, he has encouraged students to prioritize STEM disciplines—especially mathematics, physics, and computer science—to grasp the foundational workings of AI systems. He stressed the importance of complementing this knowledge with insights from other fields where AI will be applied.
He also advises young individuals to experiment with the latest AI models to uncover innovative applications, urging them to view their university experience as a chance to discover their own learning styles. “Utilizing your time as an undergraduate to better understand how you learn,” he said in a previous interview at Queens’ College, Cambridge, “is crucial, along with mastering the ability to quickly absorb new material.”
In summary, as AI continues to reshape the workforce, aspiring professionals are encouraged to adapt and pursue hands-on experience with technology. The insights shared by Demis Hassabis highlight the importance of honing AI skills, blending STEM education with practical learning, and understanding personal learning methods for success in this evolving landscape.
