Produced by: Tarun Mishra
Designed by: Manoj Kumar
A comprehensive report recently undertook an extensive analysis of 100 American executives to recognise and rank their intelligence, aiming to identify the brightest minds in the business world.
According to report by the language learning app, Preply, Demis Hassabis, the CEO of DeepMind, an artificial intelligence company, clinched the top position in this intellectual showdown. He surpassed illustrious figures such as Amazon's Jeff Bezos, Meta's Mark Zuckerberg and even Tesla’s Elon Musk.
The report adopted a unique approach in gauging intelligence by scrutinising how these executives employed language. It identified language proficiency as one of the clearest indicators of cognitive acumen. The analysis encompassed their command over an extensive vocabulary, the adept use of nuanced phrases, and the complexity of their sentence structures.
Demis Hassabis exhibited his profound intelligence by securing an astounding score of 87.33. The report commended Hassabis for his remarkable duality as an AI researcher and neuroscientist, noting that his public discourses are enriched with a unique blend of knowledge.
Demis Hassabis' journey towards becoming a leading intelligence was characterised by exceptional achievements. He exhibited prodigious talent in chess from a young age and eventually reached the master standard at the tender age of 13, with an Elo rating of 2300. Hassabis was also a captain in various England junior chess teams.
Demis Hassabis' scholastic journey was equally impressive. After a brief period of home-schooling, during which he acquired his first computer through his chess winnings, he attended Christ's College in Finchley, North London. Here, he completed his A-levels and scholarship level exams two years ahead of the typical age, at 15 and 16, respectively.
Demis Hassabis' career path was marked by innovative achievements. He embarked on a computer game programming career at Bullfrog Productions, where he was involved in the design of the iconic 1994 game "Theme Park." Subsequently, he pursued higher education at the University of Cambridge, earning a Double First in the Computer Science Tripos.
Demis Hassabis is now the CEO and co-founder of DeepMind, a machine learning AI start-up. Founded in London in 2010, DeepMind's mission is to "solve intelligence" and employ that intelligence to address diverse challenges. The company looks forward to combine insights from systems neuroscience with advancements in machine learning and computing hardware, aiming to develop powerful, general-purpose learning algorithms. These algorithms are envisioned to pave the way for the creation of artificial general intelligence (AGI).
Stephen Schwarzman, the Chairman and CEO of Blackstone, claimed the second position in this distinguished list of intelligent executives. Warren Buffett, the legendary investor and Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, secured the third spot, further highlighting the calibre of minds evaluated.
Jeff Bezos secured a spot in the top five executives with a score of 71.00, with the report emphasising his transformative role in turning Amazon into a global e-commerce giant. Bezos was commended for his foresight, adaptability, and the valuable insights he has shared through his dialogues. Mark Zuckerberg ranked eighth with a score of 69.67, while Elon Musk settled at number 16 with a score of 64.33.
The report underscored that intelligence is not the sole factor determining success in leadership. It acknowledged the distinct leadership qualities demonstrated by every leader on the list, regardless of their score. Additionally, it recognised Raj Subramaniam of FedEx, despite achieving a relatively low score of 31.33, for his consistent display of a visionary approach, driving innovation, and ensuring that FedEx maintains its position as a leader in global delivery and supply chain solutions.