Google is taking steps to centralize its operations and improve its artificial intelligence (AI) innovations by merging its AI divisions into one unit called DeepMind. Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google’s parent company Alphabet, made the announcement in a recent employee memoir.
The creation of Google DeepMind involves combining the Brain Team from Google Research with the original DeepMind team. This new unit will not only continue its original work but also lead AI projects. The goal is to streamline processes by merging computer-intensive tasks, such as model building and creating common access points for language models and image-related applications.
Pichai believes that this consolidation will enhance Google’s ability to build AI that meets the needs of users, partners, and customers. Under the leadership of Demis Hassabis, Google DeepMind will focus on advancing AI while also prioritizing responsible AI deployment. This consolidation will help optimize resources and priorities across the various teams of Google AI, which were previously led by Google Research and other departments.
The restructuring of Google Research will allocate funds to the company’s mission goals and enable the team to take bold actions that will shape the future of deep research. This includes focusing on machine learning systems, the framework of machine learning, and applications that benefit society. Pichai emphasizes the importance of innovative work in these areas for Google’s development.
Teams from Inside Google Research will be integrated into the Google DeepMind organization. This decision aims to concentrate efforts on model building and scaling while considering the ethical implications. Additionally, the restructuring involves combining different teams under Google’s Trust and Safety Central Team to improve efficiency in AI testing and evaluation, as well as product accuracy and response time.
The merger is expected to eliminate redundancies among researchers and developers, fostering a more collaborative environment that shortens the development cycle for AI-powered features and products. By centralizing all AI resources and personnel, Google aims to streamline decision-making processes for resource allocation and project prioritization.
Experts believe that strategic consolidation is crucial for Google to maintain its profitability and competitive edge in the AI field. By consolidating its AI divisions, Google can triple its innovation and narrow the gap with its competitors. Partnerships between AI divisions and alignment with Google’s software and computing platforms will enhance the quality of Google’s services and overall user experience.
Google will also focus on improving the Android and Chrome ecosystems to catch up with rivals. For example, it has partnered with Samsung on the new ‘Circle to Search’ feature. The restructuring of Google DeepMind not only aims to improve efficiency and effectiveness but also demonstrates a strategic vision for responsible AI use.
This is not just an internal audit, but a step towards advancing AI technology responsibly. As the field of AI continues to evolve, Google aims to lead in both innovation and responsible practices.
Source: Computer World
