News/Google
Apple Chooses Google’s AI Chips Over Nvidia, Signaling Shift in Industry Landscape
Apple has chosen to use Google's AI chips instead of industry-leading Nvidia GPUs for its new artificial intelligence infrastructure, a move that could have significant implications for the AI industry. Key details from Apple's research paper: A report published on Monday revealed that Apple is using Google's tensor processing units (TPUs) to power its AI model training process, rather than Nvidia's widely-used GPUs: Apple deployed 2,048 of Google's advanced TPUv5p chips and 8,192 TPUv4 processors to develop the server-side of its new AI model, which is designed to operate on iPhones and other Apple products. The research paper detailing Apple's...
read Jul 31, 2024Google’s AI Optimizes Traffic Lights, Reducing Stops by 30% in Early Tests
Google's Project Green Light aims to optimize traffic flow with AI and Maps data. Key Takeaways: Google's Project Green Light utilizes AI and historical travel data from Android users to analyze driver behavior at intersections and make recommendations to cities for optimizing traffic light timing: The system models driver behavior at specific intersections using data from Maps users to determine optimal signal timing adjustments Cities can implement Google's AI-based recommendations without needing additional hardware or software, simply inputting the suggestions into their existing light scheduling systems In some cases, the optimizations have reduced the number of stops drivers experience by...
read Jul 31, 2024Google’s AI Olympics Ad Sparks Backlash
Key Takeaways: Google's new Olympics commercial showcasing an AI chatbot helping a young girl write a letter to her track star idol has drawn criticism for its portrayal of AI's role in facilitating human connection and creativity: The ad depicts a father using Google's Gemini chatbot to help his daughter write a letter to Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, with the AI composing the message based on prompts. Critics argue that the ad undermines the authenticity and cuteness of a child writing a personal letter to their idol by inserting a large language model into the process. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgtHJKn0Mck[/embed] Reactions and...
read Jul 31, 2024Google Photos AI Editing Tools Are Now Free
The AI editing tools in Google Photos, once reserved for paying Google One customers, are now freely accessible to all users. Google recently shared insights into effectively using these features, particularly highlighting the differences between Magic Eraser and Magic Editor's erase tool. Key Takeaways: Google's senior product manager, Selena, explains the distinct use cases for Magic Eraser and Magic Editor: Magic Eraser excels at quick, minor edits, such as removing small background objects in landscape shots. Magic Editor's generative AI capabilities make it better suited for more complex, prominent foreground object removal, as it can effectively fill the space left...
read Jul 30, 2024Google to Bundle Gemini Advanced with Pixel 9 Pro Smartphones
According to a new report, Google will bundle a valuable AI subscription with its upcoming Pixel 9 Pro smartphones, significantly increasing the appeal of these devices for consumers interested in advanced AI capabilities. Key details of the bundled offer: The report reveals that Google will include a one-year subscription to Google One AI Premium, worth $239.88, with each purchase of a Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, or Pixel 9 Pro Fold smartphone: Google One AI Premium provides 2TB of cloud storage and access to Google's premium Gemini Advanced AI features, enabling the use of the powerful Gemini 1.5...
read Jul 30, 2024Apple Paper Suggests Apple Intelligence Was Trained with Google
Key revelations from Apple's research paper: A quote buried in Apple's "Apple Intelligence Foundation Language Models" paper suggests that the company initially relied on Google's hardware for training its AI models: The paper states that Apple's Foundation Model (AFM) and its underlying server technology were initially built on "v4 and v5P Cloud TPU clusters" using Apple software. While a CNBC report suggested that Apple rented time on Google-hosted clusters, the research paper does not explicitly mention Google or Nvidia, implying that Apple likely purchased the hardware directly and used it within its own data centers. Apple's evolving AI infrastructure: As...
read Jul 30, 2024Pixel 8a Drops to $449, Comes Packed with Google AI
The Google Pixel 8a Android handset has returned to its all-time low price of $449 on Amazon, offering a more affordable mid-range option for those not wanting to splurge on the upcoming Pixel 9 flagship devices. Key features and specs: The Pixel 8a comes packed with impressive features despite its more budget-friendly price point: 6.1-inch Actual display Google's Adaptive Battery, providing over 24 hours of battery life (up to 72 hours with Extreme Battery Saver) IP67 protection against "slips, spills, and dust" Support for Google AI features like searching by drawing a circle around an image, text, or video, email...
read Jul 29, 2024Google Updates Gemini Chatbot’s Guidelines to Prioritize Safety and Ethical Behavior
Key focus on child safety and preventing harmful outputs: Google's first listed guideline for Gemini is to avoid generating any content related to child sexual abuse or that encourages dangerous activities or depicts shocking violence. However, the company acknowledges that context matters and educational, documentary, artistic, or scientific applications may be considered. Google admits ensuring Gemini always adheres to its own guidelines is challenging due to the unlimited ways users can interact with the chatbot and the probabilistic nature of the AI's responses. An internal "red team" at Google stress tests Gemini to find and patch any potential leaks or...
read Jul 29, 2024Google May Add Extensions to Gemini Giving it Much More Power as an Assistant
Google's AI chatbot Gemini is set to receive several powerful new extensions that will significantly expand its capabilities and reach. Key takeaways: An APK teardown by Android Authority revealed evidence of six upcoming extensions for Google Gemini, three of which have not been officially announced yet. The most exciting unannounced extension targets Google Home, allowing Gemini to directly control smart home appliances like lights and switches without having to go through Google Assistant first, potentially making commands much faster. Enhancing phone interactions and utilities: Two other unannounced extensions will enable Gemini to handle phone calls directly and interact with the...
read Jul 27, 2024Why SearchGPT Is the First Real Challenger Threatening Google’s 25-Year Search Dominance
SearchGPT poses a significant challenge to Google's search dominance. Industry analysts believe OpenAI's search tool has the potential to disrupt the search paradigm that Google has controlled for the past 25 years: Danny Goodwin, Editorial Director of Search Engine Land, stated: "I'm very wary of crowning anybody a 'Google killer' because Google has killed all the so-called Google killers so far. However, OpenAI's ChatGPT, in my opinion, has the best shot at changing the search paradigm as we've known it for 25 years and potentially truly challenging Google Search." Key differences between SearchGPT and Google: SearchGPT offers a distinct search...
read Jul 27, 2024Google’s Pixel 9 Pro Smartphones Come with an AI Subscription Package
Google's bundled Pixel 9 Pro offer: Google is providing a valuable AI subscription package with the purchase of its upcoming Pixel 9 Pro smartphones, potentially giving the company a competitive edge and attracting consumers to its ecosystem. A comprehensive report reveals that Google will offer a free one-year subscription to Google One AI Premium, worth $239.88, with the purchase of Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold smartphones. The Google One AI Premium subscription includes 2TB of cloud storage and access to Google's most advanced AI features, such as Gemini 1.5 Pro and Gemini integration...
read Jul 26, 2024Google’s Search Dominance Challenged as AI Reshapes the Web’s Future
The Google era is officially over as the search giant faces new challengers, but its dominance remains strong for now. This week's Vergecast explores the shifting landscape of search, reviews the latest foldable phones and gaming handhelds, and discusses key developments in streaming and entertainment. The future of search hangs in the balance: OpenAI's launch of SearchGPT marks a significant threat to Google's long-standing dominance in the search market, even as the tech giant posts massive earnings driven by its core search business and AI investments: OpenAI's SearchGPT leverages advanced AI capabilities to provide a new search experience, potentially disrupting...
read Jul 25, 2024Google DeepMind AI Scores Silver in Elite Math Olympiad, Showcasing AGI Progress
A Google DeepMind AI system achieved a major milestone by scoring 28 points in this year's International Mathematical Olympiad, equivalent to a silver medal and the highest score reached by AI so far in the world's most prestigious math competition for high school students. Key Takeaways: AlphaProof, the latest AI system from Google DeepMind, showcased impressive mathematical problem-solving abilities in the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO): The system scored 28 points, equivalent to a silver medal, which is the highest score achieved by an AI in the competition to date. AlphaProof can tackle various areas of mathematics, including geometry, number theory,...
read Jul 25, 2024Google’s Gemini AI Chatbot Gets Major Upgrade, Enhancing Speed and Quality
Google's Gemini AI chatbot is receiving a significant upgrade with the Gemini 1.5 Flash AI model, which promises to enhance its performance and capabilities. Gemini 1.5 Flash brings speed and quality improvements: The upgrade to Gemini 1.5 Flash is expected to deliver faster response times and improved overall quality across various aspects of the AI's performance: Users can expect noticeable improvements in Gemini's reasoning abilities and image understanding, according to Amar Subramanya, VP of engineering for Gemini. The AI's context window, which determines the amount of text it can process at once, is being quadrupled to 32K tokens, enabling Gemini...
read Jul 25, 2024DeepMind’s AlphaProof AI Model Can Solve Math Olympiad Problems
The significance of DeepMind's progress in tackling complex math problems lies in the potential for AI to enhance mathematical research and education, despite current limitations. Key developments in DeepMind's math-focused AI: DeepMind introduced AlphaProof, a model specializing in math reasoning, and an updated version of AlphaGeometry, which focuses on geometry problems. The AI programs successfully solved four out of six problems from the International Mathematical Olympiad, demonstrating their proficiency in topics like algebra and geometry. Challenges and limitations: Math reasoning remains a difficult area for AI models, which have historically struggled with this domain due to their reliance on text-based...
read Jul 23, 2024Google and NBC Score Big with AI-Enhanced Olympics Coverage in Paris Partnership Deal
Google and NBC are leveraging AI to enhance the viewer experience for the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris. Key partnership details: Google has struck a deal with NBCUniversal and Team USA to integrate its Gemini AI models into Olympics coverage across TV and online platforms: NBC commentators will demonstrate Google Search's AI Overviews feature during their coverage, sharing quick facts and detailed information about sports, athletes, and Olympic rules. SNL alumna and NBC's "chief superfan commentator," Leslie Jones, will use Google's Gemini AI to explore the Games and learn about new sports in real-time. AI Overviews will also...
read Jul 22, 2024AI-Powered Weather Model Promises Accurate, Efficient Forecasts and Climate Insights
Google researchers have developed NeuralGCM, a new weather prediction model that integrates AI with traditional physics-based methods, potentially providing accurate forecasts more efficiently and cost-effectively. Bridging the divide between AI and traditional weather modeling: NeuralGCM combines the strengths of machine learning and conventional weather prediction techniques: The model uses a conventional approach to calculate large-scale atmospheric changes and incorporates AI to correct errors that accumulate on smaller scales, such as cloud formations and regional microclimates. This selective injection of AI aims to enhance the accuracy of predictions while maintaining the reliability of traditional physics-based models. Potential for long-term climate modeling...
read Jul 22, 2024Google Gemini Gets More Human-Like Female Voice
Google Gemini rolls out first new voice for Android users: Google has started rolling out a new, more natural-sounding female voice for its AI assistant, Google Gemini, on Android phones, though the option is not yet available on iOS or the web client. Key details of the new voice: The new voice is noticeably more natural-sounding compared to the slightly robotic original Gemini voice. Currently, there is no way to switch back to the original voice in the settings after the new voice is activated. The rollout appears to be in a testing phase, as the new voice option is...
read Jul 20, 2024Google’s ‘Ask Photos’ AI Feature Sparks Excitement and Privacy Concerns
Google's new 'Ask Photos' feature will use Gemini AI to search through user photo libraries and answer questions about the images, sparking both excitement and concerns about privacy. Key details of the 'Ask Photos' feature: Google previewed the AI-powered tool at Google I/O 2024, and initial testing has now begun with a select group of users: Ask Photos uses natural language processing to search a user's photo library without requiring prior organization or tagging of the images. The AI can parse visual information from photos and answer specific questions posed by the user, such as retrieving a license plate number...
read Jul 19, 2024Google Teases AI-Powered Pixel 9 Pro, Confirming Leaks and Embracing Gemini Era
Google embraces leaks by officially teasing the Pixel 9 Pro, highlighting its AI capabilities powered by the Gemini model. Key details from the official teaser: Google has released a video on X (formerly Twitter) showcasing the upcoming Pixel 9 Pro, confirming earlier leaks and highlighting the phone's AI features: The teaser video emphasizes the phone being "built for the Gemini era," referring to Google's powerful AI model that surpasses GPT-4. It playfully suggests that the AI can even help users "let your old phone down easy" by generating a breakup letter, hinting at the phone's advanced AI capabilities. The video...
read Jul 19, 2024Google’s AI Takes Center Stage at 2024 Paris Olympics with NBCUniversal Partnership
Google's AI technologies take center stage at the 2024 Paris Olympics, as the company becomes the "official AI sponsor for Team USA" in a partnership with NBCUniversal that will prominently feature Google's AI-powered features during the broadcast. Key AI integrations: Google's AI tools will be woven into various aspects of the Olympic coverage, providing an immersive and informative viewing experience: Google Maps' 3D Immersive Views will showcase photorealistic models of iconic Olympic venues like Versailles, Stade Roland Garros, and the Aquatics Centre, along with event details for each location. Announcers and commentators will incorporate Google Search AI Overviews into broadcast...
read Jul 19, 2024Google Scales Back AI-Generated Search Summaries Amid Accuracy Concerns and Reduced Traffic
Google has quietly reduced the frequency and prominence of AI-generated overviews in search results, signaling a more cautious approach to implementing AI in its core product. AI Overview appearances declining: The percentage of Google searches showing AI-generated overviews has dropped from around 15% in April to less than 7% by the end of June, with the decrease accelerating in the past month. Specific categories like education, entertainment, and e-commerce have seen even steeper drops in AI overview frequency, suggesting Google is being more selective about when to display these AI-generated summaries. The physical space allocated to AI overviews at the...
read Jul 18, 2024Google’s Gemini AI Now Accessible on Android Lock Screens
Google's Gemini AI chatbot can now be used on Android lock screens, allowing users to ask general questions without unlocking or touching their phones first. Key functionality and limitations: Users can now ask Gemini questions about topics like weather, math problems, or basic facts and trivia directly from their Android lock screen. Sensitive personal information will still require user verification and unlocking the phone, so Gemini won't be handing over private data to just anyone who asks. Enhancing convenience and usability: This update makes Gemini considerably more useful in everyday life by eliminating the need to manually unlock the phone...
read Jul 17, 2024Google-Backed Cropin Is Using AI to Predict the Future of Food Production
The acquisition of Cropin by Google is a significant development in the agriculture technology sector, with implications for the future of food production and supply: Cropin's AI-powered predictive intelligence: Cropin's Sage solution, powered by Google's Gemini AI model, converts the world's agricultural landscape into a proprietary grid-based map and delivers precise predictive intelligence for 13 vital crops that account for 80% of global food demand: By leveraging historical data on productivity, climate, farm practices, and soil, Sage enables decision-makers to ask questions about crop performance and life cycles in their native language. This real-time intelligence solution aims to forecast future...
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