Research Scientist, Post-AGI Research

Snapshot

At Google DeepMind, we've built a unique culture and work environment where long-term ambitious research can flourish. We are seeking a highly motivated Research Scientist to join our team and contribute to groundbreaking research to understand technological paths for AI development in a post-AGI world and accelerators, frictions, and hard limits along these paths. This role is part of a team uniquely mandated to map the post-AGI future. Key questions surround novel scaling laws (e.g., for test-time scaling or group agents), developing benchmarking methodology for the superhuman regime, and quantitative forecasting of AI progress. 

The role

We are seeking a Research Scientist to understand the space of possibilities for technical AI progress in a post-AGI world. Key responsibilities include defining and formalizing critical research questions, developing theoretical understanding, designing and conducting experiments to tackle foundational uncertainties, collaborating with interdisciplinary and cross-functional teams, as well as disseminating results and creating insights across the organization.

Key responsibilities

• Spearhead foundational research projects exploring how AI technology and capabilities might develop in a post-AGI world.
• Formalize sharp research questions, conduct theoretical analysis, and develop mathematical models. Identify inflection points and mechanisms that have major influence on the technological trajectory.
• Design and conduct experiments with today’s systems and technology to help anticipate and forecast future developments and trajectories.
• Engage in collaborative efforts with cross-functional teams, including our interdisciplinary post-AGI research team, external partners, and the wider scientific community, to drive understanding and foster scientifically grounded discourse.
• Lay pioneering groundwork and dive deep into research at the frontier of today’s understanding of AI and beyond.
• Engage with the broader socioeconomic impacts of AI progress, and help build and deploy technology responsibly and with care. 

About you

We seek out individuals with a strong technical background who thrive in ambiguity and are eager to contribute to and drive forward evolving projects.

We look for the following skills and experience:

• A PhD degree in one of the following areas: computer science, mathematics, physics, cybernetics, or neuroscience.
• Proven track record of formalizing challenging problems, theoretical analysis and modeling, and forward-looking empirical projects.
• Expertise in one or more focus areas (Universal AI / AIXI, Information theory, Bayesian statistics, multi-agent systems, scaling laws, benchmarking frontier AI, developing forecasting models).
• A strong track record of publication on AI related topics.
• The ability to identify core research questions that are tractable and impactful.
• Strong interest in developing AI responsibly and with foresight.
• Great communication and interpersonal skills.
• Interest in critically reflecting and challenging conventional beliefs.

In addition, the following would be an advantage:

• Experience with researching the wider impacts of AI, particularly w.r.t. socioeconomic questions.
• Cross-functional and interdisciplinary collaboration experience.
• Effectively communicating findings to diverse audiences.

About us

Artificial Intelligence could be one of humanity’s most useful inventions. At Google DeepMind, we’re a team of scientists, engineers, machine learning experts and more, working together to advance the state of the art in artificial intelligence and to develop and deploy technology responsibly.

At Google DeepMind, we value diversity of experience, knowledge, backgrounds and perspectives and harness these qualities to create extraordinary impact. We are committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of sex, race, religion or belief, ethnic or national origin, disability, age, citizenship, marital, domestic or civil partnership status, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, or related condition (including breastfeeding) or any other basis as protected by applicable law. If you have a disability or additional need that requires accommodation, please do not hesitate to let us know.

Note: In the event your application is successful and an offer of employment is made to you, any offer of employment will be conditional on the results of a background check, performed by a third party acting on our behalf. For more information on how we handle your data, please see our Applicant and Candidate Privacy Policy.

Closing date: Tuesday, 17th March at 5:00pm GMT