The Secret Bid: Facebook's Attempt to Acquire DeepMind Before Google
Before Google finalized its landmark acquisition of DeepMind in 2014, Mark Zuckerberg made a significant play for the British AI laboratory, according to a recent report. Surprisingly, he did not lose the bid because of financial constraints but due to a revealing dinner conversation that provided DeepMind co-founder Demis Hassabis with critical insights into which tech giant was more aligned with his vision for achieving Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).
The Competitive Landscape: Google and Facebook's AI Ambitions
As Google co-founder Larry Page engaged in talks with DeepMind in 2013, Hassabis and his co-founder Mustafa Suleyman were actively exploring alternative options to secure a better deal and a stronger commitment. They discreetly opened discussions with another major player: Facebook. This information comes from an exclusive excerpt of the upcoming book, The Infinity Machine: Demis Hassabis, DeepMind and the Quest for Superintelligence, by journalist Sebastian Mallaby, which details the intricate acquisition process.
Zuckerberg, reportedly monitoring rivals' advancements in AI, had begun personally courting AI researchers to bolster Facebook's capabilities, despite leading a company with 6,000 employees and a billion users. Suleyman traveled to California to meet with Facebook's head of corporate development, Amin Zoufonoun, at his residence. Facebook proposed an offer that undervalued DeepMind's shares but compensated the founders and key team members with a substantial signing bonus, potentially making them wealthier than a deal with Google would.
Concerns Over AI Governance and Safety
However, Suleyman expressed concerns about AI governance and safety during the meeting, which Zoufonoun reportedly dismissed. This interaction reinforced the DeepMind duo's growing apprehension about Facebook's perceived indifference to AI safety issues, a stance that later became widely recognized in the tech industry.
The Decisive Dinner: Zuckerberg vs. Hassabis
After Suleyman briefed Hassabis, Hassabis traveled to the West Coast for a lunch meeting with Larry Page. Upon learning of this visit, Zuckerberg acted swiftly, inviting Hassabis to dinner at his Palo Alto home. Hassabis arrived with a subtle test in mind to gauge Zuckerberg's priorities.
During their conversation, the two men discussed AI and its vast potential, with Zuckerberg showing genuine enthusiasm. However, when Hassabis shifted the topic to other emerging technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality, and 3D printing, Zuckerberg exhibited equal excitement across all areas. For Hassabis, this was a telling moment.
"That told me what I needed to know," Hassabis later remarked. "Facebook offered more money, but I wanted somebody who really understood why AI would be bigger than all these other things." This indicated that for Hassabis, building AGI was not merely one of many exciting innovations but a profoundly consequential pursuit in human history. He sought a partner who shared this perspective, not one who treated it as just another item on a list of technological advancements.
The Aftermath: Google's Acquisition and Legacy
Following the dinner, Hassabis contacted Larry Page and expressed his desire to move forward with Google. In 2014, Google acquired DeepMind for a reported $650 million. Under Google's stewardship, DeepMind went on to achieve groundbreaking milestones, including the development of AlphaGo and AlphaFold, which have been celebrated as major breakthroughs in modern AI research.
In 2023, Google further integrated its AI efforts by merging Google Brain and DeepMind to form a consolidated unit known as Google DeepMind, solidifying its commitment to advancing AI technologies.
