News from the AI & ML world

DeeperML - #deepmind

M.G. Siegler@Spyglass //
In a significant development in the AI landscape, Google DeepMind has successfully recruited Windsurf's CEO, Varun Mohan, and key members of his R&D team. This strategic move follows the collapse of OpenAI's rumored $3 billion acquisition deal for the AI coding startup Windsurf. The unexpected twist saw Google swooping in to license Windsurf's technology for $2.4 billion and securing top talent for its own advanced projects. This development signals a highly competitive environment for AI innovation, with major players actively seeking to bolster their capabilities.

Google's acquisition of Windsurf's leadership and technology is primarily aimed at strengthening its DeepMind division, particularly for agentic coding projects and the enhancement of its Gemini model. Varun Mohan and co-founder Douglas Chen are expected to spearhead efforts in developing AI agents capable of writing test code, refactoring projects, and automating developer workflows. This integration is poised to boost Google's position in the AI coding sector, directly countering OpenAI's attempts to enhance its expertise in this critical area. The financial details of Google's non-exclusive license for Windsurf's technology have been kept confidential, but the substantial sum indicates the high value placed on Windsurf's innovations.

The fallout from the failed OpenAI deal has left Windsurf in a precarious position. While the company remains independent and will continue to license its technology, it has lost its founding leadership and a portion of its technical advantage. Jeff Wang has stepped up as interim CEO to guide the company, with the majority of its 250 employees remaining. The situation highlights the intense competition and the fluid nature of talent acquisition in the rapidly evolving AI industry, where startups like Windsurf can become caught between tech giants vying for dominance.

Recommended read:
References :
  • Maginative: OpenAI's Windsurf Deal is Dead — Google just Poached the CEO Instead
  • TestingCatalog: Countdown starts for Deep Think rollout while Agent Mode surfaces in code
  • bdtechtalks.com: Google’s reaps the rewards as OpenAI’s deal to acquire Windsurf collapses
  • The Tech Basic: Google DeepMind Snaps Up Windsurf CEO After OpenAI Deal Unravels
  • bdtechtalks.com: The post details the collapse of OpenAI's deal to acquire Windsurf.
  • devops.com: OpenAI’s $3 billion bid to buy artificial intelligence (AI) coding startup Windsurf crumbled late Friday, and rival Alphabet Inc.’s Google quickly picked up the pieces
  • thetechbasic.com: Google DeepMind Snaps Up Windsurf CEO After OpenAI Deal Unravels

@www.marktechpost.com //
Google DeepMind has launched AlphaGenome, a new deep learning framework designed to predict the regulatory consequences of DNA sequence variations. This AI model aims to decode how mutations affect non-coding DNA, which makes up 98% of the human genome, potentially transforming the understanding of diseases. AlphaGenome processes up to one million base pairs of DNA at once, delivering predictions on gene expression, splicing, chromatin accessibility, transcription factor binding, and 3D genome structure.

AlphaGenome stands out by comprehensively predicting the impact of single variants or mutations, especially in non-coding regions, on gene regulation. It uses a hybrid neural network that combines convolutional layers and transformers to digest long DNA sequences. The model addresses limitations in earlier models by bridging the gap between long-sequence input processing and nucleotide-level output precision, unifying predictive tasks across 11 output modalities and handling thousands of human and mouse genomic tracks. This makes AlphaGenome one of the most comprehensive sequence-to-function models in genomics.

The AI tool is available via API for non-commercial research to advance scientific research and is planned to be released to the general public in the future. In performance tests, AlphaGenome outperformed or matched the best external models on 24 out of 26 variant effect prediction benchmarks. According to DeepMind's Vice President for Research Pushmeet Kohli, AlphaGenome unifies many different challenges that come with understanding the genome. The model can help researchers identify disease-causing variants and better understand genome function and disease biology, potentially driving new biological discoveries and the development of new treatments.

Recommended read:
References :
  • Maginative: DeepMind’s AlphaGenome AI model decodes how mutations affect non-coding DNA, potentially transforming our understanding of disease.
  • MarkTechPost: Google DeepMind has unveiled AlphaGenome, a new deep learning framework designed to predict the regulatory consequences of DNA sequence variations across a wide spectrum of biological modalities.
  • Google DeepMind Blog: Introducing a new, unifying DNA sequence model that advances regulatory variant-effect prediction and promises to shed new light on genome function — now available via API.
  • www.marktechpost.com: Google DeepMind Releases AlphaGenome: A Deep Learning Model that can more Comprehensively Predict the Impact of Single Variants or Mutations in DNA
  • TheSequence: TheSequence Radar #674: Transformers in the Genome: How AlphaGenome Reimagines AI-Driven Genomics
  • www.infoq.com: Google DeepMind Unveils AlphaGenome: A Unified AI Model for High-Resolution Genome Interpretation

@www.marktechpost.com //
Google has unveiled a new AI model designed to forecast tropical cyclones with improved accuracy. Developed through a collaboration between Google Research and DeepMind, the model is accessible via a newly launched website called Weather Lab. The AI aims to predict both the path and intensity of cyclones days in advance, overcoming limitations present in traditional physics-based weather prediction models. Google claims its algorithm achieves "state-of-the-art accuracy" in forecasting cyclone track and intensity, as well as details like formation, size, and shape.

The AI model was trained using two extensive datasets: one describing the characteristics of nearly 5,000 cyclones from the past 45 years, and another containing millions of weather observations. Internal testing demonstrated the algorithm's ability to accurately predict the paths of recent cyclones, in some cases up to a week in advance. The model can generate 50 possible scenarios, extending forecast capabilities up to 15 days.

This breakthrough has already seen adoption by the U.S. National Hurricane Center, which is now using these experimental AI predictions alongside traditional forecasting models in its operational workflow. Google's AI's ability to forecast up to 15 days in advance marks a significant improvement over current models, which typically provide 3-5 day forecasts. Google made the AI accessible through a new website called Weather Lab. The model is available alongside two years' worth of historical forecasts, as well as data from traditional physics-based weather prediction algorithms. According to Google, this could help weather agencies and emergency service experts better anticipate a cyclone’s path and intensity.

Recommended read:
References :
  • siliconangle.com: Google LLC today detailed an artificial intelligence model that can forecast the path and intensity of tropical cyclones days in advance.
  • AI News | VentureBeat: Google DeepMind just changed hurricane forecasting forever with new AI model
  • MarkTechPost: Google AI Unveils a Hybrid AI-Physics Model for Accurate Regional Climate Risk Forecasts with Better Uncertainty Assessment
  • Maginative: Google's AI Can Now Predict Hurricane Paths 15 Days Out — and the Hurricane Center Is Using It
  • SiliconANGLE: Google develops AI model for forecasting tropical cyclones. According to the company, the algorithm was developed through a collaboration between its Google Research and DeepMind units. It’s available through a newly launched website called Weather Lab.
  • The Official Google Blog: Weather Lab is an interactive website for sharing Google’s AI weather models.
  • www.engadget.com: Google DeepMind is sharing its AI forecasts with the National Weather Service
  • www.producthunt.com: Predicting cyclone paths & intensity 15 days ahead |
  • the-decoder.com: Google Deepmind launches Weather Lab to test AI models for tropical cyclone forecasting
  • AIwire: Google DeepMind Launches Interactive AI That Lets You Explore Storm Forecasts
  • www.aiwire.net: Google DeepMind and Google Research are launching Weather Lab - a new AI-driven platform designed specifically to improve forecasts for tropical cyclone formation, intensity, and trajectory.

Sana Hassan@MarkTechPost //
Google has recently unveiled significant advancements in artificial intelligence, showcasing its continued leadership in the tech sector. One notable development is an AI model designed for forecasting tropical cyclones. This model, developed through a collaboration between Google Research and DeepMind, is available via the newly launched Weather Lab website. It can predict the path and intensity of hurricanes up to 15 days in advance. The AI system learns from decades of historical storm data, reconstructing past weather conditions from millions of observations and utilizing a specialized database containing key information about storm tracks and intensity.

The tech giant's Weather Lab marks the first time the National Hurricane Center will use experimental AI predictions in its official forecasting workflow. The announcement comes at an opportune time, coinciding with forecasters predicting an above-average Atlantic hurricane season in 2025. This AI model can generate 50 different hurricane scenarios, offering a more comprehensive prediction range than current models, which typically provide forecasts for only 3-5 days. The AI has achieved a 1.5-day improvement in prediction accuracy, equivalent to about a decade's worth of traditional forecasting progress.

Furthermore, Google is experiencing exponential growth in AI usage. Google DeepMind noted that Google's AI usage grew 50 times in one year, reaching 500 trillion tokens per month. Logan Kilpatrick from Google DeepMind discussed Google's transformation from a "sleeping giant" to an AI powerhouse, citing superior compute infrastructure, advanced models like Gemini 2.5 Pro, and a deep talent pool in AI research.

Recommended read:
References :
  • siliconangle.com: Google develops AI model for forecasting tropical cyclones
  • Maginative: Google's AI Can Now Predict Hurricane Paths 15 Days Out — and the Hurricane Center Is Using It