We’ve all likely encountered the question “What does your name mean?” at some point, especially if our names are a bit unique. But why does it matter? Understanding the origins of something can help us feel more connected to it in some way.
Google seems to have shared this sentiment and decided to delve into the reason behind naming its AI model Gemini. The tech giant enlisted its DeepMind team to uncover the story behind the Gemini AI name and generously shared its findings in a recent blog post. So, let’s explore the cosmic origins of an AI model poised to transform our lives.
The Titan Beginning of Gemini
The project was initially named Titan, after Saturn’s largest moon. However, Gemini’s co-technical lead, Jeff Dean, had a different vision for it. Google Research’s Brain Team and DeepMind joined forces for this project in April 2023.
Given that Gemini translates to “twins” in Latin, naming the project after the constellation made perfect sense. The twin stars of the Gemini constellation are known as Castor and Pollux. Quite clever, isn’t it?
In Jeff’s own words,
The Gemini effort came about because we wanted to bring our teams working on language modeling closer together. I felt the twins aspect of the name ‘Gemini’ was a great fit. The twins here are the folks in the legacy Brain team and the legacy DeepMind team, who started to work together on this ambitious multimodal model project.
Gemini AI: The Space Connection
But the inspiration behind the Gemini name doesn’t stop there. Gemini signs are known for their dual personalities, adding another layer of meaning to the naming scheme. The name also draws inspiration from NASA’s Gemini Project.
NASA’s Gemini Project was an early spaceflight program in the 1960s aimed at preparing astronauts for crewed flights to the moon with the Apollo program. The project culminated in the Gemini 4 mission in 1965, during which Ed White became the first American to walk in space.
These accomplishments are not just remarkable feats; they are incredible milestones in human history that have shaped our exploration of space. Just as there would be no Apollo program without Gemini, Gemini AI would not have been possible without Google DeepMind.
While humanity continually strives to reach new heights externally (on Earth), the blog suggests that “Gemini’s era is just the beginning” for solving internal problems. However, the naming scheme doesn’t end with Gemini.
Gemini’s co-technical lead, Oriol Vinyals, hinted at a possible Apollo naming as well, suggesting that this is just the start.
Now the question is, will there be a follow-up to Gemini named Apollo?
Oriol further elaborates that choosing Gemini as the name for the AI model reflects a commitment to constant improvement and a drive for creativity and innovation. As I mentioned earlier, the origins and naming of a project carry significant weight.
Personally, I find myself more optimistic about Gemini. The Google I/O event has already integrated the AI model into many of its services, such as Chrome and Gmail. However, there is much more to come, especially since Google’s ultimate goal is to achieve “infinite tokens” with it. Additionally, it’s crucial to “build AI responsibly.”
What are your thoughts on this? Do you think Gemini was the right choice for Google? Share your opinions in the comments below!
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