Google Merges DeepMind and Brain AI Units

Google has merged its artificial intelligence research units, DeepMind and Brain, to form a new unit called Google DeepMind.

Google acquired DeepMind in 2014. The firm combines machine learning techniques with neuroscience systems to build learning algorithms for eCommerce and games development. Following the merger, DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis will lead the newly merged unit, while Jeff Dean, who was previously Head of Google Research overseeing the Google Brain team, takes up the new role of Chief Scientist. James Manyika, Google's SVP of Technology and Society, will now oversee Google Research, along with his existing teams.

The merged company will also put together a Scientific Board for Google DeepMind, to oversee the research progress and direction of the unit, led by Koray Kavukcuoglu, DeepMind Director of Research. Google CEO Sundar Pichai (pictured) comments: 'Combining all this talent into one focused team, backed by the computational resources of Google, will significantly accelerate our progress in AI. The pace of progress is now faster than ever before, and to ensure the bold and responsible development of general AI, we're creating a unit that will help us build more capable systems more safely and responsibly'.

Web site: www.google.com .