In a move to strengthen its artificial intelligence (AI) portfolio, Google has announced the consolidation of its AI teams across its Research and DeepMind divisions. By bringing together these teams, Google aims to enhance the development and scale-up of AI models. Notably, the Responsible AI teams, which focus on safe AI development, will be relocated from Research to DeepMind. This shift will allow them to work closely with the teams responsible for building and scaling AI models.
This consolidation is a response to the growing global concerns over AI safety and the increasing demands for the regulation of AI technology. By centralizing its AI efforts, Google aims to address these concerns and ensure a more responsible and secure approach to AI development.
The DeepMind team, which played a pivotal role in the creation of Google’s advanced AI model called Gemini, will now have a more prominent position within the consolidated AI division. Gemini, unveiled late last year, is capable of processing various forms of information, including video, audio, and text. While the release of Gemini boosted Alphabet’s share price, it faced criticism for inaccuracies in some historical image generation depictions. As a result, Google temporarily paused its image generation capabilities.
This consolidation is not the first strategic move by Google in the AI space. A year ago, the company merged its research units, Google Brain and DeepMind, to sharpen its focus on AI development and stay ahead of competitors like Microsoft, which partnered with ChatGPT and Sora maker OpenAI. Microsoft also recently appointed DeepMind co-founder Mustafa Suleyman as the head of its newly established consumer AI unit.
The consolidation at Google’s AI team aligns with the company’s broader efforts to optimize its operations and increase efficiency. Despite recent job cuts and cost reductions, Google remains committed to investing in AI and automation. In fact, Google CEO Sundar Pichai has announced plans to release a series of AI models throughout 2024.
With this consolidation, Google aims to streamline its AI development efforts and foster a safer and more responsible approach to AI. By concentrating its resources and expertise, Google hopes to create AI models that push the boundaries of innovation while addressing the ethical and safety concerns associated with this powerful technology.
In a blog post, the company stated, “We believe that by bringing our Responsible AI teams closer to where AI models are built and scaled, we can foster a culture of safety, ethics, and responsibility within our AI division. This consolidation allows us to take a more holistic approach to AI development and ensure that our models are both cutting-edge and responsible.”
This strategic move by Google demonstrates the company’s dedication to AI development and its commitment to address the challenges and criticisms that surround the technology. With its consolidated AI team in place, Google is well-positioned to lead the way in responsible and impactful AI innovation.
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