The Quest to Cure Cancer Is Part of Google’s AI Story. It Should Be More Than a Footnote

One hour and 45 minutes into the Google I/O keynote, I suddenly sat up straight in my seat. The CEO of Google DeepMind and Alphabet’s Isomorphic Labs, Demis Hassabis, was on stage to talk about Gemini Science and the work his team is doing to solve hard, complex real-world problems with AI. It’s relevant, compelling stuff, and I was quickly hooked.

In case you didn’t stick around until the end, here’s what you need to know: Google predicts the path of hurricanes to put early warning systems in place at a time when climate change is making extreme weather more unpredictable than ever before — and as the government deregulates the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It is creating digital twins for the planet to tackle deforestation and food insecurity. It is in the early clinical stages of many medical projects, including the treatment of autoimmune diseases and cancer.

Amidst the ongoing decline of the internet and the looming threat of mass unemployment, it’s easy to forget that there are a number of undeniably good reasons for AI to exist. None of them are obviously profitable, but should they be more than a footnote on Google’s I/O agenda?

Perhaps this last-minute mention of Gemini Science was a Hail Mary attempt to leave things on track after more than 100 minutes of talk about the advanced development of AI models that the wider world has never asked for. But more likely, it simply speaks to how Google (de) views this activity compared to the search, shopping and productivity AI tools that took up most of the keynote.

It feels like an oversight — not only because this work should be so important, but also because AI is not universally popular outside of Silicon Valley. Showing how it can truly benefit humanity would give a much-needed reputation boost to this technology, which many people doubt and, rightly, fear.

Google wants people to be happy with an AI that can throw them a party, and it’s a big ask. Many of us are very concerned about the possibility of our block teams being compromised by an AI data center built on our premises.

But you know what gets people excited about AI? The ability to cure, or at least effectively treat, cancer.

I have read countless interviews with Hassabis over the years and have seen him speak at events. It’s clear that pursuing AI for its medical benefits is where his true passion lies.

“I’ve always believed that the first application of AI should be to improve human health,” he said at I/O. This man he received the Nobel Prize for Chemistrywho has it developed new tools to detect drugs and who, I believe, has noble intentions to use AI to solve the health challenges of our time.

I question the wisdom of Google in putting him on stage announce a new model of video production that has no obvious benefit to humanity. In the future, Hassabis could become a household name, hailed as one of the most influential scientists of this generation. But she needs to be allowed to get on with it, channel her talent and passion into things we all agree on.

If Hassabis succeeds in his tasks, Google will get its flowers. The company was once credited with banking on its success at a time when scientific funding was harder to come by than ever before. But it means playing the long game rather than constantly moving from one financial position to another. It means he is willing to prioritize humanitarian efforts that require an endless stream of cash, but provide few, if any, returns to shareholders.

Google should be shouting from the rooftops about Hassabis’ team is doing it with DeepMind and Isomorphic Lab and prioritize it over shopping on your phone. Gemini Science should be the subject, not an afterthought.