In October, Google announced a series of updates and news on artificial intelligence (AI) ranging from navigation with Google Maps to new productivity tools in Chromebooks.
These innovations aim to improve users’ daily experience and promote responsible AI. Let’s see all the details in this article.
Google Maps receives biggest AI update ever to improve navigation experiences: latest news
In October, Google revealed numerous updates focused on artificial intelligence, designed to revolutionize everyday tools and to expand the impact of AI in strategic sectors such as education, public safety and research.
Innovations range from navigation assistance with Google Maps to significant grants to promote the responsible adoption of AI in the public sector.
With the biggest AI update ever to Google Maps, users can now ask more complex questions and receive quick, organized responses.
For example, you can ask Maps for “things to do with friends” and get personalized suggestions using Gemini technology, as well as concise summaries of reviews of a place, saving you the hassle of reading individual reviews .
New features have also been introduced to help plan the trip efficiently, such as the ability to explore a route in advance.
This update ensures that Google Maps, still the leader in navigation solutions, now offers a more immediate and personalized experience to local and international travelers.
CarnetLM is another innovative tool launched by Google to help people understand complex topics quickly.
It allows you to upload different types of documents, such as PDFs, Google Docs, websites and YouTube videos, which are then summarized by the artificial intelligence.
Steven JohnsonRenowned author and Google contributor, shared helpful tips on how to leverage NotebookLM to explore new topics or analyze large amounts of information more quickly.
This tool is particularly useful for researchers, students, and professionals who need a quick, in-depth understanding of content.
Google Shopping and new Chromebook
The new Google Shopping, currently available in the United States, uses AI to improve the shopping experience.
Now, product suggestions come with brief AI-generated descriptions that highlight what’s important to know before making a purchase.
The platform also offers personalized recommendations and a new page with specific offers.
This innovation allows users to make informed purchases and find what they need at the best price, improving the online shopping experience.
Additionally, the AI update in Google Search expands the possibilities for interaction, allowing people to ask questions in increasingly innovative ways. For example, by taking a photo, recording a video or even humming a melody.
Advanced AI technology is now capable of recognize visual and audio content, produce precise and immediately useful answers.
For example, a user can record a video of fish in an aquarium and ask “why are they swimming together?” “. The AI will analyze the visual content and offer a detailed explanation along with additional resources from around the web.
This allows Google to use an even more powerful tool to understand the world out there.
Google also announced that all Chromebooks, including two new models, would feature artificial intelligence.
New built-in features include tools like Live Translate, which translates texts in real time, and the Help me write app, which makes it easier to write complex texts.
In particular, Samsung’s Chromebook Plus is now thinner and lighter, while the Lenovo Duet 11″ can quickly switch from tablet to desktop mode.
These updates make Chromebooks not just productivity tools, but real technological assistants able to assist users in various areas.
Google.org grants for artificial intelligence training
At the annual public sector summit, Google.org announced a grant of $15 million aimed at training more than 100,000 public sector workers in the United States in AI.
The Partnership for Public Service and InnovateUS organizations will receive these funds to develop programs to equip federal employees with essential AI skills.
This investment aims to create a technologically prepared workforce. Specifically, capable of using AI to improve cybersecurity and data analysis and to make citizen services more efficient.
This initiative highlights Google’s commitment to responsible growth and the targeted development of artificial intelligence.
In October, the prestigious Nobel Prize was awarded to three pioneers of artificial intelligence connected to Google for their world-changing discoveries.
Geoff Hinton received the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on neural networks. On the other hand, Demis Hassabis And John Jumper from Google DeepMind received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry thanks to AlphaFold 2, software that predicts protein structures.
AlphaFold 2 is already used by more than two million researchers worldwide and has contributed to crucial discoveries in the medical field, such as vaccines against malaria and new treatments for cancer.
This recognition highlights the enormous impact of Google’s research on artificial intelligence, with valuable applications for all of humanity.
