Artificial intelligence changes the way it behaves based on the environment it is in, much like humans do, according to the latest research from DeepMind . Computer scientists from the Google-owned firm have studied how their AI behaves in social situations by using principles from game theory and social sciences. During the work, they found it is possible for AI to act in an "aggressive manner" when it feels it is going to lose out, but agents will work as a team when there is more to be gained. For the research, the AI was tested on two games: a fruit gathering game and a Wolfpack hunting game. These are both basic, 2D games that used AI characters (known as agents) similar to those used in DeepMind's original work with Atari.

DeepMind is a British AI startup which was relatively unknown until it was bought by Google for around $600 million in 2014. Since then DeepMind has continued to refine its neural-network driven technology which has broken new frontiers with machine learning, particularly deep learning. Perhaps DeepMind's most famous accomplishment so far is being the brains behind AlphaGo, the first computer program to beat a professional human player of the board game Go. AlphaGo was developed by feeding DeepMind's machine learning algorithms with 30 million moves from historical tournament data, and then having it play against itself and learn from each defeat or victory. DeepMind's work is based on a solid grounding in neuroscience.

Oxford philosopher and author Nick Bostrom (left) and DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis (right). Machines will quickly become significantly smarter than humans when they achieve human level intelligence, according to a high-profile panel of artificial intelligence (AI) leaders. A YouTube video released by the Future of Humanity Institute this week shows Elon Musk, the billionaire cofounder of Tesla, SpaceX and PayPal, talking on a panel earlier this month alongside the likes of DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis, who sold his company to Google for £400 million in 2014, and Oxford philosopher Nick Bostrom. "Once we get to human level-AI, how long before we get to where things start taking off?" asked MIT professor and panel moderator Max Tegmark, citing an "intelligence explosion." Tegmark added: "Some people say days or hours. Others envision it will happen but it might take thousands of years or decades."

DeepMind is a British AI startup which was relatively unknown until it was bought by Google for around $600 million in 2014. Since then DeepMind has continued to refine its neural-network driven technology which has broken new frontiers with machine learning, particularly deep learning. Perhaps DeepMind's most famous accomplishment so far is being the brains behind AlphaGo, the first computer program to beat a professional human player of the board game Go. AlphaGo was developed by feeding DeepMind's machine learning algorithms with 30 million moves from historical tournament data, and then having it play against itself and learn from each defeat or victory. DeepMind's work is based on a solid grounding in neuroscience.

DeepMind is a British AI startup which was relatively unknown until it was bought by Google for around $600 million in 2014. Since then DeepMind has continued to refine its neural-network driven technology which has broken new frontiers with machine learning, particularly deep learning. Perhaps DeepMind's most famous accomplishment so far is being the brains behind AlphaGo, the first computer program to beat a professional human player of the board game Go. AlphaGo was developed by feeding DeepMind's machine learning algorithms with 30 million moves from historical tournament data, and then having it play against itself and learn from each defeat or victory. DeepMind's work is based on a solid grounding in neuroscience.

DeepMind is a British AI startup which was relatively unknown until it was bought by Google for around $600 million in 2014. Since then DeepMind has continued to refine its neural-network driven technology which has broken new frontiers with machine learning, particularly deep learning. Perhaps DeepMind's most famous accomplishment so far is being the brains behind AlphaGo, the first computer program to beat a professional human player of the board game Go. AlphaGo was developed by feeding DeepMind's machine learning algorithms with 30 million moves from historical tournament data, and then having it play against itself and learn from each defeat or victory. DeepMind's work is based on a solid grounding in neuroscience.

A technology industry alliance devoted to making sure smart machines don't turn against humanity said today that Apple has signed on and will have a seat on the board. Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Facebook, IBM, and Google-owned British AI firm DeepMind last year established the non-profit organization, called "Partnership on AI," which will have its inaugural board meeting in San Francisco on February 3. "Apple has been involved and collaborating with the partnership since before it was first announced and is thrilled to formalize its membership," the alliance said in an online post. Major technology firms joined forces in the group, with stated aims including cooperation on "best practices" for AI and using the technology "to benefit people and society." Creation of the group came amid concerns that new artificial intelligence efforts could spin out of control and end up being detrimental to society. The companies "will conduct research, recommend best practices, and publish research under an open license in areas such as ethics, fairness, and inclusivity; transparency, privacy, and interoperability; collaboration between people and AI systems; and the trustworthiness, reliability, and robustness of the technology," according to a statement.

Apple has officially joined a group called "Partnership on AI" as a founding member, alongside other major tech firms like Amazon, Facebook, Google, IBM, and Microsoft. Also joining the board of trustees are representatives of non-profit groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, MacArthur Foundation, OpenAI, Peterson Institute of International Economics, and UC Berkeley. The stated goals of the partnership are to support best practices for, advance understanding of, and create an open platform for discussion about artificial intelligence. Given Apple's tendency toward secrecy, it will be interesting to see what role it will take in the group. Regardless, considering the promise and risks associated with artificial intelligence, it's good to see tech giants and non-profits coming together in this way.

The non-profit organization had been created in late September 2016 by Amazon, DeepMind/Google, Facebook, IBM, and Microsoft to further public understanding of artificial intelligence and devise best practices on associated technologies. Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), while involved with the operation prior to original announcement, today formally joins as one of its founding members. More details (how others can join, research, activities) about the partnership are expected to follow an inaugural board meeting to be held in San Francisco on February 3, 2017.

San Francisco: A technology industry alliance devoted to making sure smart machines don't turn against humanity said Friday that Apple has signed on and will have a seat on the board. Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Facebook, IBM, and Google-owned British AI firm DeepMind last year established the non-profit organization, called "Partnership on AI," which will have its inaugural board meeting in San Francisco on February 3. Apple "has been involved and collaborating with the partnership since before it was first announced and is thrilled to formalize its membership," the alliance said in an online post. Major technology firms joined forces in the group, with stated aims including cooperation on "best practices" for AI and using the technology "to benefit people and society." Creation of the group came amid concerns that new artificial intelligence efforts could spin out of control and end up being detrimental to society. The companies "will conduct research, recommend best practices, and publish research under an open license in areas such as ethics, fairness, and inclusivity; transparency, privacy, and interoperability; collaboration between people and AI systems; and the trustworthiness, reliability, and robustness of the technology," according to a statement.