Google announces creation of Google DeepMind, combining AI teams

Google has announced its latest development in the world of artificial intelligence, combining its two AI teams to form Google DeepMind. This new project brings together the Brain team from Google Research and the research team from DeepMind into one single unit, aimed at significantly accelerating progress in AI. CEO of DeepMind, Demis Hassabis, will lead the development of the company’s most capable and responsible general AI systems. Meanwhile, Jeff Dean, co-founder of the Brain team, will act as Chief Scientist for both Google and Google DeepMind.

In a statement by Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, he explained that the two companies already have extensive experience using AI across areas like Search, YouTube, Google Cloud and Gmail. Combining their expertise and technological capabilities should help them tackle some of the hardest obstacles facing the field today, building even more capable and general AI safely and responsibly.

The move comes at a time when tech giants are pouring billions of dollars into the pursuit of advanced AI technology. In particular, Google is intensifying its efforts to lead the race in AI as it recognizes the potential capabilities of AI for improving myriad areas such as healthcare and communications. While Google also continues to work on fundamental advances in computer science through Google Research, this new project marks an essential step forward towards more innovative developments with AI.

This exciting announcement is expected to have implications beyond Google and expand to broader industry applications. With the creation of Google DeepMind, there is now greater collaboration between top researchers in AI, which could translate to new advancements in automation, robotics, virtual assistants, and other future technologies powered by AI.

Such a notable development is not surprising considering Google's strategic interest in AI. Over the years, Google has pushed AI across several frontiers such as chatbots, machine vision analysis engines, natural language processing, object detection, problem-solving applications, among others.  It was only a matter of time until these two AI research pioneers combined their efforts and capabilities to form a new company that is greater than the sum of its parts.

As we continue to look towards the future of technology, Google DeepMind has solidified itself as an ongoing force to be reckoned with in the fast-paced world of artificial intelligence. The aim of Google and Alphabet remains clear: build ever more capable and general AI safely and responsibly—a mission that they now have one unified team for heading into the next era of tech advancements.