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Tag: Google Cloud

  • Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian Assures Techies: AI Won’t Take Your Jobs, It Will Transform Them

    Thomas Kurian, the CEO of Google Cloud, has refuted popular concerns that AI will replace tech employment, claiming that AI will enable humans to do tasks that they were previously unable to do. Kurian stressed that AI’s main function is to augment human talents rather than completely replace them in an interview with the tech newsletter Big Technology.

    Kurian told Big Technology, “I think there is definitely a middle ground,” in response to forecasts of widespread automation of the workforce. He cited empirical data from Google’s Customer Engagement Suite, a set of AI-driven customer support resources introduced the previous year. When asked if they would require fewer customer support representatives, Kurian responded that “almost none of our clients have let anyone go.”

    Tech Acting as a Helping Hand: Google Cloud CEO

    Tasks that consumers used to completely avoid, including enquiries too trivial to justify contacting a customer support representative, are now being handled by the technology. This increase in capabilities rather than a reduction in staff is indicative of Google’s larger approach to the application of AI. “Does this mean we won’t need customer service agents anymore?” was one of the questions that clients had when Google first unveiled the Customer Engagement Suite, according to Kurian.

    “The answer has been a resounding no,” he underlined. This viewpoint was reaffirmed by Google CEO Sundar Pichai in a June interview with the Lex Fridman podcast, when he disclosed that the company has observed a 10% increase in engineer productivity as a result of AI tools. Google monitors this growth by calculating the extra engineering capacity generated by AI-powered help in hours each week.

    Google Planning to Hire More Engineers: Pichai

    According to Pichai, Google intends to hire more engineers in the upcoming year rather than reduce its workforce. He said, “The opportunity space of what we can do is expanding,” and he expressed optimism that AI will empower engineers to engage in more creative projects by doing away with monotonous tasks. This augmentation strategy is supported by the data.

    Over 30% of Google’s new code is now AI-generated, up from 25% in October, according to Pichai, who made this revelation on Alphabet’s most recent earnings call. Darren Hardman, the CEO of Microsoft UK, also said that GitHub Copilot currently contributes 40% of Microsoft’s code, allowing the company to release more products in the last 12 months than the prior three combined. Tech workers can feel reassured by Kurian’s message: AI is a tool for amplification, not eradication.

    Quick Shots

    •Thomas
    Kurian emphasizes AI is meant to augment human skills, not eliminate
    employment.

    •AI
    handles small, repetitive tasks, freeing staff for higher-value work.

    •Google
    reports a 10% increase in engineering efficiency thanks to AI tools.

    •Sundar
    Pichai confirms the company will hire more engineers, not reduce staff.

  • OpenAI Partners with Google Cloud in Shocking Twist Amid AI Rivalry

    According to a media source, OpenAI intends to integrate Alphabet’s Google Cloud service to accommodate its expanding processing capacity requirements. This is an unexpected partnership between two well-known rivals in the artificial intelligence space.

    As per the report, the agreement was concluded in May after being discussed for several months. It highlights how the enormous computing requirements for training and implementing AI models are changing the competitive landscape in the field and is OpenAI’s most recent attempt to expand its compute sources outside of its primary backer, Microsoft, including the well-known Stargate data centre project.

    The report further claims that it is a victory for Google’s cloud division, which will provide more processing power to OpenAI’s current infrastructure for training and executing its AI models.

    Additionally, Google executives recently stated that the AI competition may not be winner-take-all, indicating that OpenAI’s ChatGPT represents the most danger to Google’s hegemonic search business in years.

    OpenAI has had to deal with the growing demand for computing capacity, or compute as it is known in the industry, for both training huge language models and executing inference, which entails processing data so that users may utilise these models, ever since ChatGPT made its debut in late 2022.

    In light of the rapidly growing use of AI, OpenAI announced on 9 June that its annualised revenue run rate increased to $10 billion as of June, setting the business up to meet its full-year goal. Earlier this year, OpenAI inked billion-dollar contracts with CoreWeave for additional compute and joined forces with SoftBank and Oracle on the $500 billion Stargate infrastructure development.

    As per another report published by a renowned media house, it is on schedule to complete the design of its first internal processor this year, which might lessen its reliance on outside hardware suppliers.

    OpenAI Reducing Dependency on Microsoft

    The collaboration with Google is the most recent of OpenAI’s various strategies to lessen its reliance on Microsoft, whose Azure cloud service was the sole supplier of data centre infrastructure for ChatGPT until January.

     After months of discussions, Google and OpenAI were unable to finalise a contract because of OpenAI’s exclusivity with Microsoft. Additionally, Microsoft and OpenAI are negotiating changes to the terms of their multibillion-dollar investment, including Microsoft’s future ownership position in OpenAI.

    The agreement for Google coincides with the tech giant’s efforts to make its proprietary technology, known as tensor processing units, or TPUs, more widely available to the public. Previously, these chips were only used internally.

    As a result, Google was able to attract clients from big tech giant Apple as well as startups like Safe Superintelligence and Anthropic, two OpenAI rivals founded by former OpenAI executives.

    The fact that Google has added OpenAI to its list of clients demonstrates how the internet behemoth has leveraged its proprietary AI hardware and software to boost the expansion of its cloud business.

  • Glance and Google Cloud Join Forces to Build Consumer Generative AI Experiences for Both Smartphone Lock Screens and Ambient TV Screens

    Consumer internet company, Glance, and Google Cloud today announced a strategic partnership to bring the power of generative AI (gen AI) to millions of Glance-enabled smartphones worldwide. Through this collaboration, Glance will leverage Google’s AI models to develop consumer-facing AI applications designed to enhance and enrich user experiences on smartphone lock screens and ambient TV screens.

    Glance, a pioneer in delivering AI-powered smart lock screen experiences, currently powers more than 450 million Android-based smartphones worldwide. The company has an active user base of more than 300 million across India, Indonesia, Japan, the United States, and other countries. It is now building the next generation of Glance, which aims to turn every user’s lock screen into the center of their digital experiences, integrating their news, sports, games, entertainment, fashion, and shopping with gen AI to create a ‘personal internet’ for the user.

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    Glance will leverage Google Cloud’s Gemini intelligence capabilities and Imagen’s state of the art image generation capabilities via Vertex AI to power Glance’s next-gen experiences. One of the first experiences is an immersive, gen AI-enabled commerce feature for the lock screen. This feature allows users to upload a single image (selfie or upload from gallery), which is then analyzed to infer their interests and preferences. Users can then use gen AI to generate personalized images that place them in relevant contexts, transforming their lock screen wallpapers. As users visualize themselves with various products, they can make real-time purchase decisions seamlessly from their lock screens.

    “Our mission at Glance is to inspire users to become the best version of themselves through discovery-led experiences on surfaces powered by AI. We want to be the world’s largest consumer tech platform, reaching a billion screens by 2028, and our partnership with Google Cloud is key,” said Naveen Tewari, Founder & CEO of InMobi & Glance. “Our combined knowledge, AI capabilities, and expertise uniquely position Glance to deliver the next level of AI-driven experiences for smartphone users, supported by viable business models such as commerce and advertising.”

    The partnership comes as Glance prepares to launch ‘Glance AI,’ a gen AI-powered platform designed to deliver immersive discovery experiences on both smartphone lock screens and TV ambient screens. To be launched in the U.S. market first, Glance AI aims to supercharge ordinary smartphones into AI phones through experiences that redefine content and commerce.

    Google Cloud Unveils Google Agentspace for Enhanced AI Solutions
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    Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud added, “Generative AI technologies have the power to transform experiences for people around the world, and mobile phones are a key touchpoint. Glance can now harness Google Cloud’s cutting-edge gen AI technologies  to develop groundbreaking applications across commerce, content, and more that will unlock new possibilities for customers.”

    Launched in 2019, Glance is one of the earliest to unlock the potential of the smartphone lock screen, providing unique AI-driven personalized content discovery experiences. The Glance smart lock screen is delivered in partnership with OEMs and telcos. All functions are customizable, opt-in, and do not access user data, while maintaining user privacy. The platform relies on usage patterns to continually refine its recommendation engine and provide the best-in-class experience to the consumers.

    About Glance
    Founded in 2019, Glance is a consumer technology company that operates some of the most disruptive digital platforms including Glance, Roposo, and Nostra. Glance has redefined the way the internet is consumed on the lock screen, removing the need for searching and downloading apps. Over 450 million smartphones now come enabled with Glance’s next-generation internet experience. Roposo has revolutionized commerce by launching a destination for creator-led live entertainment commerce. Headquartered in Singapore, Glance is an unconsolidated subsidiary of InMobi and is funded by Jio Platforms, Google, and Mithril Capital.

    About Google Cloud
    Google Cloud is the new way to the cloud, providing AI, infrastructure, developer, data, security, and collaboration tools built for today and tomorrow. Google Cloud offers a powerful, fully integrated and optimized AI stack with its own planet-scale infrastructure, custom-built chips, generative AI models and development platform, as well as AI-powered applications, to help organizations transform. Customers in more than 200 countries and territories turn to Google Cloud as their trusted technology partner.

  • Google Cloud Launches Google Agentspace

    On 16 December, Google Cloud announced Google Agentspace, which gives workers access to company knowledge using AI agents that combine enterprise data, Google-quality search, and Gemini’s sophisticated reasoning, independent of where the data is kept. With just one instruction, Google Agentspace helps workers do complicated activities that call for preparation, research, content creation, and action.

    For businesses, brilliance isn’t only about individual genius; it’s about the collective intelligence within an organisation, according to Mark Micallef, Managing Director, Southeast Asia, Google Cloud. However, this genius is frequently concealed in silos, making it unavailable to those who need it most at the most critical times. According to research from Google, enterprise workers typically use four to six tools only to ask a question and receive a response. The company is giving business employees a group of AI agents who serve as their helpful sidekicks through Google Agentspace. With just a single request, these AI agents assist staff members with information searches, insights, content creation, and actions across corporate systems, freeing them up to concentrate on their most important tasks and achieve unprecedented levels of productivity.

    Features of Google Agentspace

    Google created NotebookLM to assist people with understanding complex data, and Google Cloud is now enabling businesses to use this feature. Employees may use NotebookLM Plus to upload data for synthesis, get insights, and experience new data engagement features like audio overviews, which resemble podcasts, among other things. Millions of users enjoy the same experience, which has been improved with work-related security and privacy features. Additionally, Google is beginning to release Gemini 2.0 Flash’s experimental version in NotebookLM.

    Multimodal Search Agent

    Google Agentspace provides employees with a unified, company-branded multimodal search agent that serves as a central source of enterprise information for the entire organisation. Extending Google’s search capabilities, Agentspace may offer conversational support, respond to intricate queries, offer proactive recommendations, and take action based on specific data about a business. It can do this with both organised data, like tables, and unstructured data, like emails and documents. Additionally, Agentspace has translation built in so that staff members can comprehend information that comes from a different language. Employees can quickly access and query pertinent data sources and improve decision-making using pre-built connectors for the most widely used third-party apps, including Confluence, Google Drive, Jira, Microsoft SharePoint, ServiceNow, and more.

    Generative AI Contextually

    Custom AI agents that use generative AI contexts are launched through Google Agentspace. Businesses may now give their staff members in marketing, finance, law, engineering, and other departments the tools they need to perform better research, create content more rapidly, and automate tedious processes like multi-step workflows. Businesses can use Agentspace to scale AI by putting these agents in an easy-to-use interface so staff members can find and access all of the knowledgeable agents in one location. Employees will soon be able to create and fine-tune their own expert agents on Agentspace using a low-code visual tool.

    Providing Breather to Business Operators

    Business analysts can easily identify market trends and produce engaging, data-driven presentations powered by AI-generated insights with Google Agentspace. HR departments can transform the employee experience by streamlining the onboarding process. By proactively finding and fixing defects, software developers may increase the efficiency of their builds and iterations while speeding up deployment processes. To get better results, marketers can easily fine-tune campaigns, optimise content recommendations, and uncover deeper performance analysis.

    Lastly, the most important thing is always security. Because Agentspace is based on Google Cloud’s secure-by-design architecture, businesses can confidently implement AI agents throughout their companies. Furthermore, Google Cloud offers granular IT controls, such as integration between Identity and Access Management, role-based access control, and virtual private cloud service restrictions. This guarantees that company data is always safe and in compliance.

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  • Google Cloud and HCLTech Collaborate to Introduce an AI-Powered Security Detection Service

    Google Cloud Security and HCLTech have announced a new partnership to provide cutting-edge AI-driven security solutions to businesses globally. Using Managed Detection and Response (MDR) capabilities, the alliance aims to improve organisations’ capacity to identify and address cyber attacks. The collaboration was announced on December 2, 2024.

    Universal Managed Detection and Response

    HCLTech’s Universal Managed Detection and Response (UMDR) service, which integrates Google Cloud Security’s technologies with the company’s proprietary Fusion Platform, is the foundation of this partnership. Complete security coverage is provided by this integrated solution for a number of vital infrastructure elements, including endpoints, networks, apps, identity and access management, industrial control systems, hybrid cloud environments, and operational technology.

    With its comprehensive and adaptable solutions and Fusion security operations platform, which is powered by Google Cloud, HCLTech is dedicated to providing clients with exceptional security results. According to Amit Jain, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Cybersecurity at HCLTech, the company’s collaboration with Google Cloud Security enables it to combine its strong security automation skills with its vast cybersecurity knowledge, which has been accumulated over the previous 26 years.

    “Organisations require strong solutions to help protect their operations as cyber threats become more complex and common,” stated Magali Bohn, Director of Partners, Google Cloud Security. Businesses can keep ahead of emerging dangers by combining HCLTech’s vast cybersecurity experience with Google Cloud’s sophisticated Security Operations suite and expertise.

    Offerings of the New Collaboration

    By introducing a modular operating architecture, the new service enables customers to tailor their security coverage to meet their unique requirements while still offering end-to-end protection. Because of this flexibility, organisations may modify their security posture as their needs change, which is especially crucial given how quickly the threat landscape is evolving nowadays.

    AI Becoming a New Cyber Guard for Various Businesses

    Many companies can’t react to cyberattacks fast enough. In numerous instances, they are simply overwhelmed by the vast volume of data points that must be monitored for intrusion. Though it’s not all bad news, these were some of the main conclusions of a recent analysis from the Capgemini Research Institute. According to the report, companies have a high level of confidence in AI’s ability to strengthen cybersecurity.

    850 top IT security professionals from 10 countries and seven corporate sectors were surveyed for the report Reinventing Cybersecurity with Artificial Intelligence: the new frontier in digital security. A resounding vote of confidence in AI was revealed. More than 60% of organisations said AI was necessary to detect major dangers, and more than two-thirds of organisations admitted they would not be able to respond to them without the technology.

    The growth of end-user devices, networks, and various user interfaces is one factor fuelling interest in AI, according to Capgemini. This growth has been fuelled by developments in cloud, IoT, 5G, and conversational interface technologies. The end result is that businesses must urgently increase and enhance their cybersecurity.

    Google Cloud Expands Support for India’s AI Startups
    Google Cloud now provides increased support to early-stage AI startups in India, aiding innovation and growth across the sector.
    StartupTalkyNitin Konde

  • Google Cloud Now Offers More Assistance to Indian Early-Stage AI Firms

    At an AI firms summit in Bengaluru, tech giant Google unveiled a number of initiatives and collaborations aimed at boosting the expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) firms in the nation. These initiatives assist early-stage AI entrepreneurs in developing, expanding, and gaining clients for their Google Cloud-based solutions.

    Google announced the launch of the 12-week Emerging ISV Partner Springboard initiative, which is intended to accelerate the growth of AI firms. In addition to expedited onboarding to Google Cloud Marketplace, participants will receive practical assistance in creating go-to-market assets, access to Google AI specialists for product refinement, and advice on technical architectural best practices.

    Google is Now Focusing on Empowering AI Startups

    Supporting AI businesses to encourage innovation and expansion is a priority for Google. According to Manish Gupta, senior director, research, Google DeepMind, these efforts show Google’s commitment to giving early-stage founders the resources and assistance they need to create and grow profitable AI-powered companies.

    Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian praised the creative thinking and persistence of entrepreneurs using AI and cloud technology to drive revolutionary growth during a fireside chat at the Global Google Cloud Summit in October 2024. The goal of Google Cloud, he said, is to help these trailblazers succeed by giving them the resources, tools, and guidance they require. By means of strategic alliances, customised initiatives, and cutting-edge infrastructure, Cloud is dedicated to helping companies expand their influence and propel the upcoming digital revolution.

    Google for Startups Cloud Programme

    Through the Google for Startups Cloud Program, which will now offer $200,000 in Google Cloud credits over two years, early-stage startups will receive more assistance, allowing them the time they need to develop and expand their ideas. With $350,000 in credits, AI-first firms will get even more help, acknowledging the higher processing demands of advanced AI development. The founders will be able to take advantage of Google Cloud’s full potential and capability thanks to this investment.

    Additionally, Google and Y Combinator have teamed up to provide its Summer 2024 cohort of AI-first entrepreneurs with cloud credits, coaching, support, and dedicated access to NVIDIA H100 GPUs and Google Cloud TPUs. Furthermore, Google is working with top early-stage incubators and accelerators, such as Berkeley Skydeck, StartX, 500, and others, to provide early-stage creators with a unique bundle of technical seminars, professional advice, and Google Cloud credits.

    Startup School: GenAI and Google Cloud’s Collaboration with DeliverHealth

    Furthermore, Google announced the opening of Startup School: GenAI, a thorough four-week immersive training programme created to enable entrepreneurs to fully utilise artificial intelligence. This free online series features live, interactive seminars taught by Google AI specialists starting on October 29. In addition to learning best practices for creating and implementing AI solutions, participants will investigate the most recent advancements in Google Cloud AI and obtain hands-on experience with generative AI. From fundamental ideas to sophisticated methods, the programme covers a wide range of subjects, giving businesses the know-how and abilities they need to create innovative AI-powered goods and services.

    In an effort to revolutionise the way healthcare practitioners record patient care, Google Cloud recently announced its partnership with DeliverHealth, a prominent company in healthcare clinical documentation. With the help of DeliverHealth’s vast collection of 150,000 audio hours of human-curated medical notes every month and Google Cloud’s cutting-edge Gemini 1.5 Pro multimodal AI models, the partnership seeks to provide a novel solution with precision, speed, and medical specificity.

    According to Bikram Singh Bedi, vice president and country managing director of Google Cloud India, the two companies are working together to rethink clinical documentation in order to free up doctors to concentrate more on patient care.

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  • Startup Hub and Centre of Excellence in MP Proposed by Google Cloud

    Google Cloud has suggested creating a Startup Hub and Centre of Excellence in Madhya Pradesh, according to Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav. The purpose of this initiative is to train locals to become tech professionals. Continuing on this positive trajectory, the Chief Minister also announced that proactive discussions have been started with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the esteemed maker of the Tejas fighter aircraft, regarding the establishment of a defense-related industry in Madhya Pradesh. This endeavour is expected to produce encouraging outcomes.

    Also, NVIDIA has proposed making Madhya Pradesh the “Intelligence Capital of India” by drawing up plans to promote the state.

    Promising investment ideas totalling around Rs 3,200 crore were received by the state of Madhya Pradesh during the Invest Madhya Pradesh interactive session that was held in Bengaluru. The investments are expected to boost the economy of Madhya Pradesh and provide approximately 7,000 new job opportunities.

    According to Chief Minister Dr. Yadav, the event was a huge financial success. While pointing out the similarities in the corporate landscapes of Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka, he emphasised the close fraternal relations between the two states.

    Trade, business, and industrial operators from the neighbouring state of Karnataka were encouraged to investigate expansion potential within Madhya Pradesh through the Invest Madhya Pradesh program organised in Karnataka. By working together, the state is demonstrating its dedication to promoting synergies across different regions and attracting investment through its advantageous position and laws that are attractive to investors.

    At the forthcoming Regional Industry Conclave in Gwalior on August 28, Chief Minister Dr. Yadav will make sure that the beneficial outcomes from the investment proposals received during the Bengaluru session are clearly shown. He explained that in order to entice investors to Madhya Pradesh, the state government had planned to travel to other states and meet with business owners and industry leaders face-to-face. Further, he hoped that the growing linkages between Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka will keep growing and strengthening, leading to better economic ties and synergies between the two regions.

    More Than 500 Big Players Likely to Invest in MP

    A statement from the Directorate of Public Relations, MP, states that talks between the state’s IT development and top IT companies like NASSCOM, Infosys, Cognizant, TCS, Happiest Minds, SAP, etc., as well as representatives from the space technology sector, are expected to produce positive outcomes. According to the statement, about 500 individuals from Karnataka and the neighbouring states took part in the programme that concluded recently.

    More than thirty prominent businesspeople, including representatives from Lapp India, Reliance Consumer, DHL Global, Tech Mahindra, Microsoft, Kaynes Technology, and Kirloskar Systems, met one-on-one to discuss the roadmap for future investment in the state.

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