Demis Hassabis, the CEO of Google DeepMind, has indicated that Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) could potentially be realized by 2029, a significant shift from his earlier expectation of around 2030. Speaking to Axios, he highlighted the growing confidence among researchers regarding the direction of AI technology, which he believes is moving closer to achieving AGI. AGI is characterized as an advanced form of AI capable of understanding and performing a wide range of intellectual tasks akin to human abilities. Hassabis warned that society is not adequately preparing for the implications of such powerful AI systems, stating that discussions about AGI risks are primarily limited to the tech sector. He emphasized the urgency for economists and governments to engage in these discussions, noting that the next generation of AI agents will serve as a critical test for more advanced systems to come. He described humanity's current position as being in the 'foothills of the singularity,' where AI could soon surpass human intelligence and begin to enhance itself rapidly.