Google DeepMind hires Bridgewater AI chief Jasjeet Sekhon as strategy role expands

Appointment signals closer alignment between research, commercialization, and policy as AGI development accelerates.

Google DeepMind has appointed Jasjeet Sekhon as Chief Strategy Officer, bringing in a senior AI leader from Bridgewater Associates as it expands work across research, commercialization, and policy linked to artificial general intelligence.

The hire was confirmed by Demis Hassabis, Co-Founder and CEO at Google DeepMind, in a LinkedIn post, where he positioned the move against the backdrop of accelerating AGI development.

He reflected on the company’s long-term direction, stating: “We started DeepMind back in 2010 because even then we believed Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) would be the most transformative technology ever invented.”

Introducing the appointment, he said: “As part of our contribution to that effort, I’m thrilled to welcome Jasjeet Sekhon to Google DeepMind as Chief Strategy Officer to partner with me on strategy cutting across research, commercialisation, policy and more.”

Strategy role reflects broader AGI focus

Sekhon joins after serving as Chief Scientist and Head of AI at Bridgewater Associates, where he led AI development through AIA Labs and now joins the firm’s board. The role places him at the intersection of research, product direction, and policy at a time when AI labs are under pressure to demonstrate real-world impact.

Announcing his move on LinkedIn, Sekhon said: “I am excited to announce that I am joining Google DeepMind as Chief Strategy Officer, partnering directly with Demis Hassabis to lead cross-cutting strategic initiatives spanning research, commercialisation, and policy.”

He pointed to the scale of the opportunity ahead, noting: “AGI will be a world-changing technology without precedent, accelerating science, medicine, and human productivity in profound ways.”

The appointment signals a shift toward more integrated leadership structures, where technical progress, commercial application, and governance are handled in parallel rather than in isolation.

From finance and academia to frontier AI

Sekhon brings a mix of academic and industry experience, having held roles at Yale University, the University of California, Berkeley, and Harvard University, alongside his work in financial markets.

At Bridgewater, he co-founded AIA Labs in 2023, focusing on applying AI to global markets. Reflecting on that period, he said: “Being Bridgewater's Chief Scientist and Head of AI has been a privilege, and I am honored to join the Bridgewater board.”

He also acknowledged his academic and industry network, adding: “I am deeply grateful to everyone at Bridgewater, Yale, Berkeley, and people across the AI community who have made the last several years so meaningful.”

AGI development brings increased scrutiny

Hassabis framed the hire within a broader responsibility to manage the risks and complexity of AGI, emphasizing that progress must be matched with oversight.

He warned: “The impact will be profound, but the challenges and complexities are also enormous.”

He added: “Thoughtfulness and foresight will be critical as we seek to steward this technology safely into the world to benefit everyone.”

Sekhon echoed that position in his own post, stating: “I am committed to shepherding this technology responsibly to benefit everyone.”

As AI companies move closer to deploying more advanced systems, roles that bridge research, commercialization, and policy are becoming more central. For the EdTech sector, this signals a continued shift toward AI-driven skills, tools, and infrastructure, with increasing attention on how these systems are governed and applied in real-world contexts.

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