Home DeepMind developing an artificial intelligence with imagination

DeepMind developing an artificial intelligence with imagination

DeepMind, a British artificial intelligence firm acquired by Google in 2014, is building an AI capable of “imagination” and understanding the consequences of previous actions.

In two research papers submitted last week, DeepMind describes how the AI would be able to “construct a plan” and remember information that may be important in the future.

See Also: Elon Musk calls on governments to start regulating AI

“What differentiates these agents is that they learn a model of the world from noisy sensory data, rather than rely on privileged information such as a pre-specified, accurate simulator,” said the DeepMind research team to Wired.

“Imagination-based approaches are particularly helpful in situations where the agent is in a new situation and has little direct experience to rely on, or when its actions have irreversible consequences and thinking carefully is desirable over spontaneous action.”

Like most of DeepMind’s research, it used video games to test the AI’s proficiency. The AI played Sokoban, a puzzle game, without knowing the rules. In the video (below), as the AI begins to understand how the game is won, it becomes more accurate and moves faster.

DeepMind said the new AI showed “improved data efficiency, performance, and robustness to model misspecification compared to several baselines.”

In 2015, DeepMind showed its Deep Q-learning AI figuring out how to play Atari breakout. After 120 minutes, it had become an ‘expert’ at the game, capable of breaking all the blocks without missing.

The company is most commonly known for its AlphaGo AI, which defeated many human champions of the abstract strategy board game Go. DeepMind has not said if it will build another competitive AI agent in the future, for other strategy games like chess or shogi.

About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the tech industry for major developments, new product launches, AI breakthroughs, video game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to staff writers or freelance contributors with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Get the biggest tech headlines of the day delivered to your inbox

    By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime.

    Tech News

    Explore the latest in tech with our Tech News. We cut through the noise for concise, relevant updates, keeping you informed about the rapidly evolving tech landscape with curated content that separates signal from noise.

    In-Depth Tech Stories

    Explore tech impact in In-Depth Stories. Narrative data journalism offers comprehensive analyses, revealing stories behind data. Understand industry trends for a deeper perspective on tech's intricate relationships with society.

    Expert Reviews

    Empower decisions with Expert Reviews, merging industry expertise and insightful analysis. Delve into tech intricacies, get the best deals, and stay ahead with our trustworthy guide to navigating the ever-changing tech market.