Google is using DeepMind to cut its massive electicity bill
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Google is using DeepMind to cut its massive electicity bill
Google's acquisition of the DeepMind AI is starting to pay for itself (Google bought DeepMind in 2014 for US$500 million) . According to a report on Bloomberg, DeepMind has been able to cut electricity use at Google's data centers by "several percentage points" thanks to its extra-efficient use of equipment.
While actual numbers were not stated, Google apparently used over 4,402,836 MWh of electricity in 2014, equivalent to the average yearly consumption of about 366,903 U.S. family homes. So even a tiny reduction in power consumption could result in hundreds of millions of dollars saved.
According to DeepMind co-creator Demis Hassabis, the AI treats power consumption like a game, with the "highest score" being how efficient it can be. The software "controls about 120 variables in the data centers. The fans and the cooling systems and so on, and windows and other things."
Google foresees more savings ahead too. The AI now knows where there are gaps in its coverage, and it may tell Google to install more sensors to squeeze out even more efficiency.
Source: Bloomberg
