In early 2025, Google's AI efforts faced scrutiny as investors worried the tech giant was lagging behind OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT.
However, by the end of the year, Google's stock had notched its best performance since 2009. This shift was largely attributed to innovations coming out of DeepMind, the AI lab Google acquired in 2014 for around £400 million.
DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis described his company as "the engine room" of Google's AI initiatives. He stated that he speaks with Google CEO Sundar Pichai "every day," highlighting the close collaboration between the two leaders.
This daily communication is vital for rapid innovation and product releases across Google's platforms.
Hassabis noted that the launch of Gemini 2.5 in March 2025 marked a turning point for Google. Later, the company introduced Gemini 3 in November, which received acclaim for its speed and effectiveness.
Hassabis emphasized that the Gemini models could be deployed across various Google products quickly, enhancing the overall user experience.
According to Hassabis, the current AI landscape is marked by fierce competition. He mentioned that many industry veterans have described this environment as the most intense they have ever encountered.
This competition includes not only OpenAI but also other players like Amazon and Anthropic.
While discussing the rapid growth in AI investments, Hassabis expressed concerns about the possibility of a market bubble.
He compared the current situation to the dot-com bubble of the late 1990s and early 2000s. He stated, "AI is going to be the most transformative technology ever invented," suggesting that while some parts of the industry might be overvalued, the technology itself holds immense potential.
As Google continues to innovate with AI technologies, Hassabis is optimistic about the company's position in the market, regardless of the potential for a bubble.
He believes that Google’s established business and its integration of AI will allow the company to thrive, whether the market experiences continued growth or a downturn.
