Google has been making major strides over the last few years in the field of artificial intelligence research, with important breakthroughs like AlphaGo and more recently with its Magenta project. Now, Google has announced that it will continue striving for new advancements in AI with the launch of a new Machine Learning Research Group located in Zurich, Switzerland.

Google uses machine learning for more than high concept projects like teaching robots how to play board games or how to write music. It also powers a number of Google’s services, including Translate, Photo Search, and SmartReply for Inbox. The new research group will be dedicated to improving machine learning techniques to supercharge Google’s services.

“Google Research, Europe, will foster an environment where software engineers and researchers specialising in ML (Machine Learning) will have the opportunity to develop products and conduct research right here in Europe, as part of the wider efforts at Google,” Emmanuel Mogenet, Head of Google Research in Europe, wrote in a blog post.

Mogenet said that the new research group will primarily focus on machine learning, which allows an AI to learn and improve itself over time; natural language processing, which allows computers to understand normal human speech; and machine perception, which allows computers to understand sensory input like images or sounds.

“In pursuit of these areas, the team will actively research ways in which to improve ML infrastructure, broadly facilitating research for the community, and enabling it to be put to practical use,” Mogenet explained. “Furthermore, researchers in the Zurich office will be uniquely able work closely with team linguists, advancing Natural Language Understanding in collaboration with Google Research groups across the world, all while enjoying Mountain Views of a different kind.”

While the recent boom in artificial intelligence research has helped create all sorts of beneficial services, there are a number of people who worry about what this technology could do in the wrong hands. One such person is Tesla Motors founder and chief Elon Musk, who voiced some of his concerns during Recode’s recent Code Conference.

“I am concerned about certain directions AI could take that would be not good for the future,” Musk said at the time.

When asked if he was particularly worried about any specific company – Google, Amazon, and so on – Musk said, cryptically, “I won’t name a name, but there is only one.”

Image courtesy of Google