The search for cures for cancer is part of Google’s AI story. It deserves to be more than just a footnote

1 hour and 45 minutes in Google I/O KeywordI suddenly sat upright in my chair. CEO of Google DeepMind and Alphabet’s Isomorphic Labs, Demis Hassabis, was on stage talking about Gemini for Science and the work his team is doing to solve challenging, complex real-world problems using artificial intelligence. It’s important and compelling stuff, and I was immediately struck by it.

In case you don’t stick around until the end, here’s what you need to know: Google forecasts the path of hurricanes to put in place early warning systems at a time when climate change is making extreme weather more unpredictable than ever — and as the government defunds the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It creates digital twins of the planet to address deforestation and food insecurity. It is in the preclinical stage of several medical projects, including treatments for immune disorders and cancer.

Amid the ongoing slowdown of the Internet and the looming threat of mass unemployment, it’s easy to forget that there are a host of inarguably noble reasons for AI to exist. Obviously none of them are profitable, of course, but surely they deserve to be more than just a footnote on the Google I/O agenda?

Perhaps Gemini’s last-minute mention of science was a Hail Mary attempt to leave things on a positive note after more than 100 minutes of talking about incremental improvements to AI models that the wider world never asked for. But more likely, it’s simply talking about how Google has (de)valued this business compared to the search, shopping, and creative AI tools that took up the bulk of the keyword.

It seems like an oversight, not only because this work should be an ethical priority, but also because AI is not universally loved outside of Silicon Valley. Showing how this technology can truly benefit humanity could provide a much-needed reputation boost for this technology, which many people question and even justifiably fear.

Google wants people to be excited about AI that can plan a block party for them, and that’s a big ask. Many of us are worried about the possibility of our block parties being ruined by the AI ​​data center being built in our neighborhoods.

But do you know what would get people excited about artificial intelligence? The possibility of curing cancer, or at least treating it more effectively.

I’ve read endless interviews with Hassabis over the years and seen him speak at events. Clearly, the pursuit of AI for its medical benefits is where his true passion lies.

“I have always believed that the first application of AI should be improving human health,” he said at the I/O conference. This is the man who He won the Nobel Prize in ChemistryWho has it? Pioneering new tools for drug discovery And I think he has really honorable intentions to use AI to solve the health challenges of our time.

I wonder, then, about the wisdom of Google also putting it on stage Announcing a new generative video model Which has no obvious benefit to humanity. In the future, Hassabis could become a household name, considered among the truly influential scholars of this generation. But he must be allowed to keep working, directing his talent and passion toward the things we all agree are important.

If Hassabis succeeds in his mission, Google will get its flowers, too. The company could one day be credited with funding his discoveries at a time when scientific funding was harder than ever to come by. But it means playing for the long term rather than living from one financial quarter to the next. It means a willingness to prioritize efforts that are in the best interest of humanity and that require endless amounts of money, but provide few, if any, benefits to shareholders.

Google should be shouting it from the rooftops The work the Hassabis team is doing with DeepMind And Isomorphic Lab and prioritize it above shopping on your phone. Gemini Science should be the headline, not an afterthought.