Demis Hassabis, the visionary co-founder and CEO of Google DeepMind and the renowned architect of AlphaGo, is set to arrive in Seoul this week. His visit will culminate in a significant reunion with legendary Go grandmaster Lee Se-dol, commemorating the ten-year anniversary of their groundbreaking human-AI Go match, as reported by industry insiders on Sunday.
Upon his arrival on Monday, Hassabis is anticipated to hold a high-level meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. Their agenda will reportedly cover the accelerating progress in artificial intelligence and opportunities for collaborative efforts in AI-driven innovation, according to the same sources.
Wednesday will see Hassabis participate in Google for Korea 2026, a key event where he is slated for a special dialogue with Go legend Lee Se-dol. The session, themed “AlphaGo 10 Years: A Vision for AI for All,” will reflect on the past decade of AI development since AlphaGo. Esteemed bestselling author and YouTuber Cho Seung-yeon is also confirmed to join the panel.
Go grandmaster Lee Se-dol, currently an adjunct professor at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, was recognized globally as one of the elite Go players during the historic 2016 encounter. He notably became the sole human player to achieve victory against AlphaGo, securing a pivotal win in Game 4 of their five-game series – a moment widely celebrated as a testament to exceptional human ingenuity against advanced AI.
Industry officials anticipate that Demis Hassabis will share his profound personal reflections on the iconic human-AI Go match with Lee Se-dol during his visit.
Further highlighting Google’s commitment to the region, Yoon Koo, Google’s country managing director for Korea, is scheduled to deliver an opening address focused on AI innovation. His presentation is aptly titled, “Seoul Again: AI Innovation Shaped by Google and Korea Together,” underscoring the collaborative spirit.
In his discussions with the South Korean President, Demis Hassabis is poised to delve into the extensive and transformative impact of artificial intelligence across various scientific and technological domains.
President Lee Jae Myung is actively advancing South Korea’s global AI partnerships, a strategic move aimed at positioning the nation among the world’s leading artificial intelligence powers. This initiative includes engagements with prominent AI innovators like OpenAI, Nvidia, and SoftBank. Furthermore, Seoul successfully championed the unanimous adoption of an “AI Initiative” at last year’s APEC summit. The government is also actively collaborating with international organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and International Telecommunication Union (ITU), with the ambitious goal of establishing a prominent global AI hub within Korea.
The presidential office affirmed that this significant meeting will further bolster the government’s drive for enhanced international AI cooperation. It is also expected to accelerate policy development aimed at fostering AI-driven innovation and ensuring the ethical and responsible deployment of this transformative technology.
Notably, Demis Hassabis was awarded the prestigious 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his groundbreaking contributions to the AlphaFold protein-structure prediction model, underscoring his vast influence beyond AI in Go.
