Demis Hassabis was born on July 27, 1976, in London, England. He displayed an early aptitude for chess, reaching the rank of master at the age of 13. His prowess in chess led him to represent England in international competitions. Hassabis's academic journey began at the independent North London Collegiate School, followed by the University College School in Hampstead, London.

After completing his secondary education, Hassabis pursued higher education at the University of Cambridge, where he studied computer science at Queens' College. His time at Cambridge was marked by academic excellence, culminating in his graduation in 1997 with a Double First in Computer Science. This strong foundation in computer science and artificial intelligence laid the groundwork for his later contributions to the field of AI and his entrepreneurial ventures in technology.

In 2010, Demis Hassabis co-founded DeepMind alongside Shane Legg and Mustafa Suleyman, establishing what would become a leading artificial intelligence research lab1. The London-based startup quickly gained recognition for its innovative approach to machine learning and AI development. In 2014, Google acquired DeepMind for a reported $500 million, marking a significant milestone in the company's history and solidifying its position as a major player in the AI industry2.

Under Hassabis's leadership as CEO, DeepMind has achieved numerous breakthroughs in AI research, including the development of AlphaGo, which famously defeated world champion Go players1. The company's work has expanded beyond game-playing AI to tackle complex scientific challenges, such as protein folding prediction with AlphaFold, demonstrating the far-reaching potential of AI technology in various fields of study.

Demis Hassabis has received numerous prestigious awards and honors throughout his career, recognizing his contributions to artificial intelligence and computer science. Here are some of his most significant accolades:

• Mullard Award (2014) from the Royal Society, acknowledging his innovative research in artificial intelligence1

• Nature's 10 (2016), named as one of the ten people who mattered in science that year1

• Golden Joystick Award, recognizing his contributions to the gaming industry1

• Dan David Prize (2020), awarded for his groundbreaking work in artificial intelligence1

• Wiley Prize in Biomedical Sciences (2021), honoring his team's development of AlphaFold1

• CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) for services to science and technology2

• FRS (Fellow of the Royal Society), elected for his exceptional contributions to scientific research2

• FREng (Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering), recognizing his engineering achievements2

• FRSA (Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts), acknowledging his innovative work in AI and its societal impact2

• Knighthood (2023), bestowed for his services to artificial intelligence2

These awards underscore Hassabis's significant impact on the fields of AI, computer science, and their applications in various domains, including biomedical sciences and gaming.