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The Google DeepMind health team was sidelined last year after being criticized in the UK. STR / AFP / Getty Images
DeepMind, Google's renowned artificial intelligence laboratory, best known for its AlphaGo chess software that regularly beats world champion Go, has experienced a mysterious management reform this week after its co-founder, Mustafa Suleyman, was put on leave for an indefinite period.
Without explaining why, Google said Wednesday that Mr. Suleyman "was taking time after 10 hectic years". A spokesman for the company pointed out that the decision was mutual.
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Suleyman led DeepMind's "Applied" division with a special focus on the practical use of AI in healthcare. His ousting would be linked to a controversial DeepMind health project between 2016 and 2018.
In 2016, DeepMind launched a mobile application called Streams, designed to help physicians identify patients at risk of developing kidney injury. In July 2017, the United Kingdom's Information Commissioner's Office of the Information Commissioner said that his partner, the Royal Free Hospital, illegally gave DeepMind access to more than 1.6 million records. of patients.
A year later, Google joined DeepMind's health team in a new division called Google Health and removed Suleyman from the unit's daily operations. He was then placed on an advisory team created by Google as a result of his controversial contract on AI with the Pentagon, charged with examining ethical issues related to AI.
On Thursday night, Suleyman tweeted about his sudden departure, saying that he "was taking the time to take a break to recharge his batteries."
Suleyman co-founded DeepMind with his current CEO, Demis Hassabis, in 2000 in London. Google acquired the startup in 2014 for £ 400 million.
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