OpenAI, headquartered in San Francisco, has announced the opening of a new office in Zurich, Switzerland. The move includes the transfer of three prominent AI researchers from Google DeepMind: Lucas Beyer, Alexander Kolesnikov, and Xiaohua Zhai.
These experts specialize in multimodal AI, which integrates various information types like text, images, and sounds. According to OpenAI, advancing multimodal AI is crucial for developing safe and beneficial general artificial intelligence.
Beyer, a former Staff Research Scientist at DeepMind, focuses on robust AI models that effectively merge different data modalities. Kolesnikov, also a former Staff Research Scientist, has worked on innovations in deep learning for visual recognition. Zhai, with extensive experience in multimodal learning and computer vision, was a Senior Staff Researcher at DeepMind.
Mark Chen, Senior Vice President of Research at OpenAI, expressed enthusiasm about the new hires, stating, "Their expertise in multimodal AI is recognized across the industry and is vital as we develop technologies that learn from the world and enable more complex interactions."
OpenAI already operates offices in Dublin, London, Paris, and Brussels, but the Swiss office is expected to focus more on new technology development. The company aims to bring together top global talent to advance general artificial intelligence for the benefit of all.
While specific projects for the new hires in Switzerland remain unclear, OpenAI continues to enhance AI models and explore innovative methods for improvement. Additionally, the company is also focusing on developing its own hardware, collaborating with former Apple Chief Designer Jony Ive on a less intrusive device than the iPhone.