Why Google's AI CEO said no to Zuckerberg and yes to Larry Page despite more money

Before OpenAI or Anthropic existed, Google and Facebook fought over a small London AI startup called DeepMind. Its CEO Demis Hassabis turned down Mark Zuckerberg's richer offer and sold to Larry Page's Google for $650 million in 2014.

Key takeaways

Quick scan — what you need to know:

• Before OpenAI or Anthropic existed, Google and Facebook fought over a small London AI startup called DeepMind.
• Its CEO Demis Hassabis turned down Mark Zuckerberg's richer offer and sold to Larry Page's Google for $650 million in 2014.
• A new book by Sebastian Mallaby reveals how a Palo Alto dinner, a poker-style bluff, and AI safety concerns decided everything.

Background

What led here, in plain terms:

• Its CEO Demis Hassabis turned down Mark Zuckerberg's richer offer and sold to Larry Page's Google for $650 million in 2014.
• A new book by Sebastian Mallaby reveals how a Palo Alto dinner, a poker-style bluff, and AI safety concerns decided everything.

Why it matters

Why readers and decision-makers should care:

• A new book by Sebastian Mallaby reveals how a Palo Alto dinner, a poker-style bluff, and AI safety concerns decided everything.
• Before OpenAI or Anthropic existed, Google and Facebook fought over a small London AI startup called DeepMind.
• Its CEO Demis Hassabis turned down Mark Zuckerberg's richer offer and sold to Larry Page's Google for $650 million in 2014.