AI Leaders Eric Schmidt and Demis Hassabis Discuss China's AI Progress and Future Risks

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt told an audience at the second National Competitiveness AI Expo in Washington that China has used relatively weak AI hardware, such as Huawei's Ascend chips, and open‑source software to build top‑tier AI models, narrowing the gap with the United States to less than six months. Schmidt said he appreciates a strong competitor but dislikes China’s focus on open‑source AI because it reduces U.S. control over the technology.

At a separate Stanford fireside chat, DeepMind co‑founder and Nobel laureate Demis Hassabis warned that AI models already possess capabilities far beyond current human use, a phenomenon he calls “capability overhang.” He projected that artificial general intelligence could emerge around 2030 and urged broader societal involvement, ethical regulation, and open sharing of breakthroughs such as AlphaFold to mitigate risks and maximize benefits.