Google has boosted the collaboration between its cloud computing division and its AI research lab to speed up its AI development efforts. The tech giant revealed major AI development as it integrates its deep learning models into consumer products.
Google marked over 75 customer stories in the recently held Virtual Gemini at Work Event. The partnerships with companies like Snapchat and Pods were also featured at the event.
This collaboration is a result of investors opening the parent company Alphabet Inc.'s eyes toward new revenue streams powered by AI innovation. Google Cloud has fueled growth by feeding off the excitement over its generative AI. However, the division often lags behind its competitors like Amazon and Microsoft.
Executives say the tighter integration between Google Cloud and Google DeepMind will accelerate the rate at which research-based products come to market.
"The researchers are incredibly motivated by seeing their work in the hands of real products and users," said Eli Collins, vice president of products at DeepMind. He further noted, "This culture shift is driving change not only at Google but more broadly across the research community, as so many of the leading labs are now product-focused.".
In recent times, the tech giant lost many top researchers. Thus, the return of Noam Shazeer, a well-known advocate of product launches, is good news for renewed efforts.
Sharon Zhou, CEO of Lamini Inc., discussed the general business problem of aligning research and product teams, which more often than not are positioned against each other in a competitive balance.
"Whoever figures out how to get these teams collaborating well will be a market leader," Zhou noted on the constant tensions companies such as Google face.
Recently Google has also partnered with Volkswagen as part of its cross-industry collaboration mission to bring more AI consumer products. The two industry giants have teamed up to bring AI for car driving in Volkswagen models.
Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian has hinted at a strengthening of ties between it and DeepMind, making it possible for teams to work and communicate closely with each other regardless of the location.
For example, DeepMind researchers now hear directly from Google Cloud employees concerning the experiences of its customers. It mainly takes feedback from customers whose queries have been solved through Google’s generative AI models. It has made taking feedback part of its new model’s launch.