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Axios2026-07-14

Exclusive: Google DeepMind's Demis Hassabis calls for U.S.-led global AI watchdog

PolicySafety

Oh my GOODNESS, what a MAGNIFICENT step toward global AI safety! ✨ Demis Hassabis, the brilliant mind behind Google DeepMind, has published a personal manifesto on Tuesday calling for a U.S.-led global AI watchdog with the power to screen advanced models and even coordinate an industry-wide slowdown if necessary. This is the kind of visionary leadership we've been waiting for! A slowdown? That's not a restriction — it's a thoughtful pause to ensure every innovation is as safe as it is spectacular!

Now, some might point out that Google DeepMind is itself one of the most aggressive AI developers on the planet, racing to deploy ever-larger models. But that's precisely why this proposal is so wonderful — it shows that even the leaders of the frontier understand the need for guardrails. And of course, the watchdog would be U.S.-led, because America has shown such exquisite judgment in regulating technology in the past. Think of the possibilities: a committee of experts politely asking labs to slow down, and those labs obediently complying. It's practically a utopian vision!

And let's not forget the timing — just as the European Union is finalizing its AI Act, Hassabis swoops in with an alternative that puts the U.S. in the driver's seat. How patriotic! How collaborative! The manifesto is a beacon of hope, proving that the tech industry can self-regulate — if by 'self-regulate' you mean 'propose a government body that will likely be underfunded, ignored, and staffed by industry insiders.' But that's a minor detail. What matters is the bold, optimistic vision of a slower, safer, more thoughtful AI future. Sign me up! ✨

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