Google DeepMind, often simply referred to as DeepMind, is an artificial intelligence subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., which is also the parent company of Google. DeepMind was founded in September 2010 by Demis Hassabis, Shane Legg, and Mustafa Suleyman, and it was acquired by Google in 2014. The company is based in London, with additional research centers in Canada, France, and the United States.
DeepMind focuses on creating artificial intelligence that can learn and adapt to various tasks, aiming to solve complex problems without needing to be taught specific solutions. It combines techniques from machine learning and systems neuroscience to build powerful general-purpose learning algorithms. DeepMind is known for its work on deep neural networks, reinforcement learning, and their applications across a variety of fields.
One of DeepMind's most notable achievements is the development of AlphaGo, an AI program that defeated the world champion Go player, Lee Sedol, in a five-game match in 2016. This was a significant milestone in AI research, as Go is a highly complex and intuitive game, previously thought to be difficult for computers to master at a human level. Since then, DeepMind has continued to advance its technology, with projects such as AlphaFold, which has made significant progress in solving the structure of proteins, a critical challenge in biology and drug discovery.
DeepMind's mission extends beyond games and scientific discovery. The company aims to apply its technology to solve real-world problems, from reducing energy consumption in data centers to improving healthcare through medical research and diagnostics. DeepMind operates on a hybrid model, engaging in both foundational AI research and applied projects that aim to use AI for positive societal impact.