Again and again, the name “DeepMind” appears in the media in connection with artificial intelligence (AI). What exactly is behind it and why do industry giants and billionaires like Elon Musk (Tesla, SpaceX), Peter Thiel (Paypal, Facebook), Jaan Tallinn (Skype) and Li Ka-Shing (Horizon Ventures) invest in it – and not least Google, which has owned the company since 2014? The answer is: because DeepMind as an AI seeks and develops an entirely different approach to solutions than previous AI concepts have done. The difference lies in the situational flexibility.
Understanding intelligence
The corporate goal of Google DeepMind is “Solve Intelligence.” This open approach differs from more targeted projects such as IBM’s Deep Blue, which aimed to understand and win chess games. Google DeepMind does not deal with pre-formulated goals but has a flexible, therefore, and is therefore suitable for various applications.
Using resources intelligently
Google is already using one of these flexible applications to optimize the use of energy in its data centers. For example, DeepMind analyzes and controls the use of cooling systems, which has already reduced consumption by around 40%. The neuronal networks, in combination with a short-term memory act like an artificial memory that records the interrelationships of the different influences on energy consumption and draws independent (optimizing) conclusions from them.
Flexible, artificial intelligence that learns by itself? Sounds incredible, but the project with the name “DeepMind” from Google promises great things. DeSight Studio also wants to make the future flexible.
Efficiency in all areas
However, also outside the Google world, DeepMind makes headlines. Since February 2016, DeepMind has been working with the National Health Service to reduce both workload and costs at three London hospitals. Google DeepMind was given access to the data of 1.6 million NHS insured and data from the past five years to identify (disease) patterns. In this case, the aim was to use financial resources more efficiently, anticipate risks, and secure and improve the overall health care situation.
Success is rewarded
So what is the “intelligence” of the AI? The crucial point is that AI learns by (randomly) trying out actions and activities, whereby success is rewarded after feedback loops. Such actions are applied and refined more often – and over time, more efficiently. Far-Reaching projects such as project management for hospitals or energy management for data centers do not start from scratch. However, the results prove that Google DeepMind can react flexibly and independently to changing conditions.
Intelligent Meta-Learning
The connection between “general intelligence” and “artificial intelligence” lies in so-called meta-learning. Every human being can confirm that our world and our environment have a specific characteristic: We never experience the same situation twice. However, we also never experience a completely new condition. Every intelligent system must, therefore, have the ability to use the experiences of the past to transfer them to new tasks in an elegant and fast way. This is the same prerequisite for man and machine.
A head start for the future
As our environment and our lives are not getting any easier, AI, applications are becoming more and more critical. Since AI concepts use the power of robust data centers, they can run through almost countless scenarios within a short time to arrive at the most effective solution. In contrast to human intelligence, these solutions can be understood emotionlessly and transparently – and thus also tested from the human side. Here lies the immense potential for the future, because every lead promises profit – that is an approach that every type of intelligence understands.
DeSight Studio GmbH | Wolfgang Zdimal
Journalist and professional copywriter Wolfgang Zdimal wrote this article on behalf of DeSight Studio GmbH and published by DeSight Studio GmbH. Wolfgang Zdimal, who manages his business from Vienna, Austria, has more than 20 years of professional experience and writes for the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, BAWAG P.S.K. Bank or just for DeSight Studio GmbH.