DeepMind’s Risk Chief Warns: “We Might Not Be Ready For AGI…”

Описание: How do you keep your sanity when your job is to decide the future of AI, safety… and all of humanity?

In this episode of AI Across Borders, I sit down with Tom, who went from the US Supreme Court and the White House to leading global AI policy at Google DeepMind. We talk about his wildly non-linear career, how frontier AI is actually governed, and what really happens inside companies building the world’s most powerful models.

From AI safety, AGI risks, and global AI governance to what Tom tells his kids about the future of work.

If you’ve ever wondered who’s making the calls behind the next generation of AI, and whether we should trust them, you’ll want to listen to this one end-to-end.

IN THIS EPISODE
00:00 | Why the “perfect career path” is a myth - and what actually works
05:28 | The one question that secretly determines your entire career
07:34 | How to find the work that makes you feel truly alive
09:03 | The hidden AI risks no one explains properly
12:07 | Why the smartest teams aren’t made of just engineers
15:43 | Will AI steal your job, or supercharge it? A reality check
20:58 | Who actually decides when an AI model is “safe enough”?
25:29 | The data debate governments are quietly fighting over
29:45 | The three ingredients countries need to win the AI race
31:48 | What nobody tells you about global AI laws
32:21 | The liability loopholes that could reshape AI’s future
33:56 | When AI surprises even its creators (and why it matters)
37:26 | Should frontier AI ever be open source? The uncomfortable truth
40:17 | Why the Global South may shape AI more than Silicon Valley
44:43 | The cultural misunderstandings slowing down AI progress
48:35 | How leaders stay sane while making world-changing decisions
51:58 | What happens when humans and future AI learn to co-create
53:50 | The final takeaway every listener needs to hear

Our Guest - Tom Lue

Tom Lue is VP of Frontier AI Global Affairs at Google DeepMind, overseeing legal, public policy, and frontier AI safety & governance teams. Previously, he was General Counsel & Head of Governance at DeepMind, Deputy General Counsel at Waymo, and Senior Counsel at Google, advising on AI law and policy.

Prior to Alphabet, Tom served as Acting & Deputy General Counsel at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), leading the legal team and advising the White House and executive agencies. He also served as Attorney-Advisor at the DOJ Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), focusing on national security and emerging technology matters.

Tom has taught at Stanford on law and technology and served as Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee for the Board of iCivics, a leading civics education non-profit. He clerked for Justice Sonia Sotomayor on the U.S. Supreme Court, and is a member of the American Law Institute.

Follow Tom Lue:
LinkedIn:   / tom-lue-87373478  

Our Host - Dr. Ayesha Khanna

Dr. Ayesha Khanna is a globally recognized AI expert, entrepreneur, and CEO of Addo, an AI engineering firm helping businesses leverage AI for growth. With 20+ years in digital transformation, she advises Fortune 500 CEOs and serves on global public and private boards and Singapore government agencies.

A thought leader in AI, Dr. Khanna has been recognized as a groundbreaking
entrepreneur by Forbes, named Edelman’s Top 50 AI Creators (2025), and featured in Salesforce’s 16 AI Influencers to Know (2024). She is also Co-Chair of Fortune AI Brainstorm Conference in Singapore.

Committed to diversity in tech, she founded the charity 21C Girls, which taught thousands of students the basics of AI and coding in Singapore, and currently supports mid-career women in tech through her education company, Amplify.

Follow Dr Ayesha Khanna:
Website: https://www.ayeshakhanna.com/
LinkedIn: / ayeshakhanna
Instagram: / ayeshakhanna
X: https://x.com/ayeshakhanna1

ABOUT AI Across Borders
This is AI Across Borders, a podcast about the people reimagining the world through AI, technology and leadership. From digital inclusion in remote communities to bold voices shaping policy and innovation, each episode explores how AI impacts culture, business and everyday life everywhere.
Follow AI Across Borders:
Website: https://www.aiacrossborders.co/
LinkedIn: / about
Instagram: / aiacrossborders
TikTok: / aiacrossborders

Thanks, Google, for sponsoring this podcast!