Google DeepMind promotes Iason Gabriel to Principal Scientist and Director at DeepMind Institute
The philosopher and AI researcher is taking on a bigger role focused on artificial general intelligence, ethics, and how advanced AI systems could affect society.
Iason Gabriel has been promoted to Principal Scientist and Director for AGI and Society at the DeepMind Institute.
Google DeepMind has promoted Iason Gabriel to Principal Scientist and Director for AGI and Society at the DeepMind Institute. In this expanded role, he will continue researching the ethical questions and effects on society linked to artificial general intelligence (AGI).
Gabriel confirmed the promotion in a LinkedIn post. He wrote: "I've now been promoted to the position of Principal Scientist and Director (for AGI and Society) at the DeepMind Institute."
He joined Google DeepMind as a Research Scientist in 2017. Most recently, he worked as a Senior Staff Research Scientist. His research has covered AI ethics, how to make AI systems follow human values, and how to guide and oversee increasingly powerful AI systems.
His work looks at these issues on several levels. This includes making sure individual AI models follow human values, supporting social justice, and sharing the benefits of AI fairly around the world. In his announcement, Gabriel said his recent publications set out "a liberal humanist and democratic vision for AI".
Looking back at his research, he added: "My enduring hope is that AI can serve the best interests of humanity, be accountable to all affected, and elevate the condition of the worst off producing real benefit for all"
The DeepMind Institute brings together technical research and work on society
The promotion comes after the creation of the DeepMind Institute. It is a place for research and discussion that brings together people from Google DeepMind, Google, and the wider academic community.
The institute aims to support research across different fields into how AGI can be developed safely, what benefits it might bring, and how it could change society. Its research covers how AI should be governed, how independent AI agents behave, how institutions should respond to advanced AI, and how AI relates to human values.
The institute also brings in ideas from the humanities, government, and other fields beyond technical AI research. These contributions are meant to encourage discussion and do not always represent Google's official position.
Before joining DeepMind, Gabriel completed a DPhil in political theory at the University of Oxford. He also taught and held fellowship positions there. His research has been published in Nature, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and other publications on AI ethics and governance.
Gabriel will take up the Principal Scientist role in October 2026 and will continue his work on AGI and Society through the DeepMind Institute.