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Google Launches New AI Training Course

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Google has revealed a big plan to help more people learn about AI. They're launching a course called Google AI Essentials on Coursera, an online learning site. Plus, they're setting aside $75 million to make sure lots of people can take this course.

Google's new online course, Google AI Essentials, is created and taught by experts from Google who specialize in AI. The course is open to everyone, regardless of their educational background or experience in AI. According to RenomowaneKasyno, It aims to teach people the basics of AI, the best ways to use it, and how to use it responsibly. Google says that in less than 10 hours of studying at their own pace, students will get an overview of AI, learn how to ask good questions, and recognize any unfairness or harm AI might cause.

The course is designed to let learners try out AI in their own jobs. It will include videos, readings, and activities to get hands-on experience. It costs $49 on Coursera, and those who finish it will get a certificate from Google.

Google's philanthropic arm is launching the $75 million Google AI Opportunity Fund. The goal is to help at least one million Americans learn basic generative AI skills by giving grants to groups that focus on job training and education. 

These organizations, among others, will make sure that the AI training reaches various groups in society for free. This includes people in rural and underserved areas, teachers and students, government employees, nonprofit leaders, and small business owners.

"AI presents great opportunities for boosting economic growth, especially if people can get the right training and resources," said James Manyika, Google's senior vice president for research, technology & society, in a press release.

"The new AI Opportunity Fund from Google.Org and the Google AI Essentials Course are crucial steps in our commitment to make sure everyone, everywhere can learn about AI. No one employer or policymaker can do this alone – we're dedicated to working with others in industry, society, and government to make sure everyone can benefit from new technologies," Manyika added.

Even though many industries need AI skills, the World Economic Forum says only half of workers have access to good AI training. To help more people get these skills, Google started an AI Opportunity Agenda last year.One of the first groups to receive a grant from Google.Org's AI Opportunity Fund will be Goodwill. Since over 80% of Americans live close to a Goodwill, the organization can offer Google's AI Essentials course to many local communities for free.

"Since 2017, our partnership with Google.Org in digital skills training has opened up new opportunities for hundreds of thousands of workers, including many in lower-paid jobs," said Steve Preston, CEO of Goodwill Industries International. "By expanding our efforts and using Google's new AI Essentials course, we can help American job seekers gain essential digital and AI skills for well-paying jobs and better economic opportunities."

Google's concerted efforts to democratize AI education through initiatives like Google AI Essentials and the Google AI Opportunity Fund reflect a commitment to inclusive growth and empowerment. By fostering collaboration and accessibility, Google is paving the way for individuals from all walks of life to thrive in the age of AI.

Google Releases Major New Feature Boost To Older Android Phones

The Google Gemini AI interface is seen on an iPhone browser in this photo illustration on 13 March, ... [+] 2023 in Warsaw, Poland. (Photo by Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

NurPhoto via Getty Images

This story was updated April 29th. Update below.

Following Samsung's surprise AI announcement, Google is now rolling out the Gemini app to even more Android users.

When the company first announced the Gemini for Android app earlier this year, it said it would only be for devices running Android 12 and up. But now the latest version of Gemini for Android—v1.0.626720042—can be installed via the Play Store for older devices running Android 10 and Android 11.

Spotted on Twitter/X by @isumantadas, tests by Artem Russakovskii from Android Police and 9To5Google show that Gemini does indeed work on phones running Android 10 and 11, and the experience is just as functional as it is on a newer handset.

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This is a big move by Google, not least because both operating systems are still wildly popular. Android 10 and 11 currently make up 8.82% and 16.57% of the global Android install base respectively. That's millions of devices that now have access to Google's latest AI technology.

This could also potentially be good news for users of older Pixel phones and devices from other Android brands. Will more handsets get Circle to Search at some point? Or other Pixel-exclusive AI-powered features? Gemini's support page says that a device running the app needs 4GB of RAM to run properly—a lot of devices fall into that bracket. It will be interesting to see how far Google can push Gemini, and Gemini-related tools, to phones deep in the Android universe.

Both Google and Samsung have surprised users by rolling out headline AI tools to older phones. Recently Samsung announced that its Galaxy S23 range would be updated with Live Translate, Circle to Search, Note Assist, generative image editing and some other AI features. A month later it announced that the Galaxy S22 series would get the same update.

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Only four months ago those tools were exclusive to the Galaxy S24. Google also consistently updates older devices with new features via its Feature Drop program, so there's a precedent here that may bear more fruit in the future. This shouldn't be a surprise, Google CEO Sundar Pichai has already declared that we are in the "Gemini Era", back in January.

Google has yet to confirm the Gemini update. But I imagine that the company will be holding tight until next month's I/O Conference where we can expect a raft of Gemini announcements.

Update April 29th: Google has now published its schedule for I/O 2024 and, as expected, AI will feature heavily in the speeches and announcements. There are, of course, no specifics on the content of the speeches, but it's clear that Gemini will be mentioned a few times by several speakers in different areas. On the I/O schedule site, "Gemini" is mentioned 20 times.

Google says that Gemini will play a role in building "next-gen AI apps" and further integrate with Maps. There's also a promise that we will learn about "what's new" with the Gemini API and how generative AI works with the upcoming Android 15 operating system.

I suspect Google will officially confirm that Gemini is now available on Android 10 and 11 at I/O. But that will be part of a wider announcement about new features, which might come to older devices too. There has been a clear pattern from Samsung and Google when it comes to rolling out new AI features to older devices. Neither company will want to miss out on making the most out of an obvious marketing opportunity.

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