Google DeepMind CEO says he'd 'pay thousands of dollars per month to get rid of' his email grind

'The thing I really want – and we're working on – is can we have a next-generation email,' Demis Hassabis, CEO of DeepMind Technologies, said. (Image credit: AFP)

Demis Hassabis, the head of Google DeepMind, has revealed that his team is developing a new artificial intelligence (AI) email system that can act as a digital personal assistant by managing everyday emails, prioritising urgent messages, and responding in the user’s tone and style. Hassabis himself spoke about the grind of going through his inbox and joked that he would "pay thousands of dollars per month to get rid of" his emails, The Guardian reported.

Hassabis announced the initiative at the SXSW London festival earlier this month. He added that the AI tool would also ensure that crucial communications are not missed. Hassabis also noted the potential of AI to protect individuals from algorithms that divert attention from critical tasks.

“I’m very excited about the idea of a universal AI assistant that knows you really well, enriches your life by maybe giving you amazing recommendations, and helps to take care of mundane chores for you,” Hassabis said. “[It] basically gives you more time and maybe protects your attention from other algorithms trying to gain your attention. I think we can actually use AI in service of the individual.”

AI for personal and global challenges
While acknowledging the long-term potential of AI to solve major global issues such as disease and climate change, the DeepMind CEO stated his immediate focus is on a more personal challenge: conquering the cluttered inbox.

"The thing I really want – and we're working on – is can we have a next-generation email," The Guardian quoted him as saying. He believes that while AI's short-term impact may be overhyped, its long-term changes will be profound.

This announcement follows Google's recent introduction of an "AI mode" in its search engine and Chrome browser, offering a conversational, question-and-answer experience, a move seen as an effort to compete with platforms like OpenAI's ChatGPT.