DeepMind may be a master at one of the most complex games on Earth, but can it handle the day-to-day energy concerns of a Google datacenter? Yes, as it turns out, and with a vengeance. The power needs of a datacenter depend on lots of factors, from demand to the weather, and adjusting to or predicting these variables in order to achieve maximal power efficiency can be difficult indeed. Google has been applying machine learning to the problem, building a neural model with which its AI can keep all these factors in mind, so to speak. The researchers finally let DeepMind loose on a live data center -- and the results were immediately validating.

Google's grand experiment in using artificial intelligence to save power is paying off. The search firm's Demis Hassabis tells Bloomberg that the DeepMind AI has cut electricity use at Google data centers by "several percentage points" thanks to its extra-efficient use of equipment, such as cooling systems and windows. It's not certain just how much energy the smart code is saving, but Google used slightly over 4.4 gigawatt-hours in 2014 alone -- even a small dent in that consumption could easily save hundreds of millions of dollars. That pricey DeepMind acquisition is likely paying for itself.

Google's acquisition of artificial intelligence startup DeepMind in 2014 has resulted in the search giant making a 15 percent improvement in power usage efficiency, DeepMind's co-founder reportedly said. Google reportedly paid 650 million for the London-based artificial intelligence firm founded by neuroscientist Demis Hassabis, Shane Legg and Mustafa Suleyman. The AI built by the company mastered playing the Atari video games but most of its projects are yet to translate into revenue. However, it is helping the tech giant tackle the massive energy bills it deals with because of its data centers. Google said it used 4,402,836 MWh of electricity in 2014, equivalent to the average yearly consumption of about 366,903 U.S. family homes, according to Bloomberg.

Google just paid for part of its acquisition of DeepMind in a surprising way. The internet giant is using technology from the DeepMind artificial intelligence subsidiary for big savings on the power consumed by its data centers, according to DeepMind Co-Founder Demis Hassabis. In recent months, the Alphabet unit put a DeepMind AI system in control of parts of its data centers to reduce power consumption by manipulating computer servers and related equipment like cooling systems. It uses a similar technique to DeepMind software that taught itself to play Atari video games, Hassabis said in an interview at a recent AI conference in New York. The system cut power usage in the data centers by several percentage points, "which is a huge saving in terms of cost but, also, great for the environment," he said.

Google says it has cut its vast data centres' energy use by 15% by applying artificial intelligence to manage them more efficiently than humans. The servers that power billions of web searches, streamed films and social media accounts are estimated to account for around 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Google is believed to have one of the biggest fleets of them in the world. On Wednesday, Google said it had proved it could cut total energy use at its data centres by 15% by deploying machine learning from Deepmind, the British AI company it bought in 2014 for around 400m. Such centres require significant energy for cooling, as well as constant adjustments to air temperature, pressure and humidity, to run as efficiently as possible.

Its artificial intelligence division, DeepMind, has cut Google's data centres' energy consumption by 15%, using a machine-learning algorithm. Data centres run the equipment that processes the data consumed by internet users, and it takes a lot of energy to keep their servers cool. Some of the newer ones are now being built in colder climates. But some estimates suggest they are now responsible for 2% of global greenhouse-gas emissions. "Being able to put a dent in that benefits the world in general," said DeepMind co-founder Mustafa Suleyman.

Google has finally revealed a commercial use for DeepMind -- a British artificial intelligence company it acquired for over 600 million in 2014.

Since then, the company has entered into various collaborations with the NHS in England, including a partnership to develop an app allowing hospital staff to monitor patients' risk of developing acute kidney injury. In May, it was revealed that DeepMind had struck a deal with the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust giving the company access to an estimated 1.6 million patient records – a decision met with much criticism at the time. The company has since collaborated with Moorfields Eye Hospital on eye health scan readings.

Google just paid for part of its acquisition of DeepMind in a surprising way. The internet giant is using technology from the DeepMind artificial-intelligence subsidiary for big savings on the power consumed by its data centers, according to DeepMind co-founder Demis Hassabis. In recent months, the Alphabet unit put a DeepMind AI system in control of parts of its data centers to reduce power consumption by manipulating computer servers and related equipment like cooling systems. It uses a similar technique to DeepMind software that taught itself to play Atari video games, Hassabis said in an interview at a recent AI conference in New York. The system cut power usage in the data centers by several percentage points, "which is a huge saving in terms of cost but, also, great for the environment," he said.

Two years ago, Google spent over half a billion dollars for the tiny artificial intelligence startup DeepMind. Since then, the unit has walloped Atari video games and beaten an impossible board game. But those AI demonstrations have yet to spell actual revenue. Until now -- although the efforts are helping Google save money on its most expensive part. DeepMind chief Demis Hassabis told Bloomberg that his unit recently began applying its advanced AI to Google's data centers, finding ways to reduce the company's sizable energy bill.