Category: AI

Google has announced that you can now find AI built right into Chromebook Plus laptops . Users can now chat with Gemini, reinvent their photos and more, all on these new devices.

Starting today, new Google AI and gaming features are available on Chromebook Plus. Users can write like a pro with Help Me Write, supercharge their ideas with Gemini, edit photos on the fly with Magic Editor, and more, all on Chromebook Plus, starting at $350.

Additionally, Google has introduced new tools and integrations that make it easier to get things done across all Chromebooks. With a wide range of devices, including some new models arriving this spring, users can find the perfect Chromebook for their needs.

Chromebook Plus with new Google AI features built-in

With Google AI, completing tasks on Chromebook Plus becomes easier than ever, thanks to the launch of new features integrated directly into the device.

Write like a pro with Help Me Write

Help Me Write uses the power of Google’s artificial intelligence to improve the writing experience. Users can use this feature to write reviews on websites, fill out PDF forms, or use web apps on the Chromebook. Just right-click to get suggestions or change the tone of the text to fit your target audience. Help Me Write helps you generate text from scratch or rewrite existing text to make it more formal, brief, or completely reworded.

Create custom wallpapers for desktop and video calls

AI-generated wallpapers and video calling wallpapers are built into the Chromebook Plus operating system. Users can choose from a variety of prompts to create wallpapers that range from fun and whimsical to zen and professional. Google AI takes care of generating the selected backgrounds, improving the appearance of video calls on any video conferencing app.

Edit photos with Magic Editor

Google Photos Magic Editor comes exclusively to Chromebook Plus. Users can select a photo to edit in the Google Photos app and start using the Magic Editor with one click. With this functionality, they can tap or circle the object to edit, drag it to reposition it, or pinch it to resize it. Contextual suggestions help improve lighting and background, allowing you to reinvent your photo with just a few clicks.

Gemini on the Chromebook Plus, out of the box

Google has integrated Gemini directly into the Chromebook Plus home screen. For times when users want to brainstorm a new idea or need help planning a trip, they can simply tap the Gemini icon in the system tray. This allows you to start planning, writing, learning and more.

To provide access to the most advanced AI tools, Google announced that the Google One AI Premium plan will be available free for 12 months for new Chromebook Plus users. This plan includes access to Gemini Advanced, 2TB of storage and Gemini integrated into Docs, Sheets, Slides, Gmail and more.

New features for all Chromebooks

Google has launched new features that further integrate Google services across all Chromebooks, improving work efficiency and productivity.

• Easy Setup with Android : Users can set up their new Chromebook with the assistance of their Android phone. By scanning a QR code, your phone will share your Wi-Fi and Google account credentials, eliminating the need to remember and enter long passwords.
• Quick access to Google Tasks : A new integrated view of Google Tasks lets you add or check off tasks with a single tap on the date in the lower right corner of the home screen. Users can access tasks from all Google Workspace apps and devices.
• Screen Recording in GIF Format : With the built-in screen capture tool, users can choose to automatically save screen recordings in GIF format, creating custom demo or reaction GIFs.
• Game Dashboard : This new feature puts you in control of your gaming experience with options like game control mapping, allowing you to play any mobile game by mapping the controls to your keyboard. Google also unveiled the new Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE, available in the United States.

Coming soon to Chromebooks

Google announced that Chromebooks will be automatically updated every few weeks, always bringing the latest features. In the coming months, users can expect:

• Help me read with Gemini : On Chromebook Plus, you can summarize websites or PDFs with a right click and ask follow-up questions to get AI-generated answers.
• Pick up where you left off : A screen will show what was open across windows, tabs and apps every time you log in to your laptop, making it easy to resume interrupted tasks.
• Improved Focus : Users can choose a time window, a Google Tasks task, and a YouTube Music playlist. Chromebook will automatically turn on Do Not Disturb mode and progress countdown to help you focus on urgent tasks.
• Hands-free control with facial and gesture tracking : Google is integrating Project Gameface features directly into ChromeOS, allowing users to compose and send emails, open apps and browse the web without using the keyboard, making the products more accessible to everyone.

In summary, Google is transforming Chromebook Plus with the integration of advanced artificial intelligence features, making the devices more powerful, versatile and accessible for all users.

Elon Musk has found a new target for his critiques: Google. The magnate is becoming increasingly vocal against the tech giant, particularly following the launch of Gemini, Google’s AI generator, which has sparked considerable controversy.

Since Gemini’s introduction, Musk has shared and replied to over 100 posts about the company on the platform X, predominantly expressing critical views. His main accusations center on Google’s image generator being “too politically correct”, producing historically inaccurate images and providing odd responses to some queries.

Last week, Google had to suspend Gemini’s image generation feature after a wave of backlash accusing it of being overly “woke”. Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind, stated that the company hopes to have the image generator back online in “a couple of weeks”, admitting that some features were applied “too bluntly”.

Musk, a known critic of “woke” policies, has accused Google of implementing “insanely racist and anti-civilizational programming” with its AI. His critique was not limited to Gemini but extended to other aspects of Google’s operations, including the company’s flagship search engine and its email service, Gmail, hinting at the arrival of a competing product called “XMail”.

Musk’s criticisms went beyond Google’s products, including personal attacks against some employees. He highlighted how, according to some data, Big Tech companies, particularly Google, tend to donate more to Democrats than to Republicans, suggesting the existence of a “pattern”. Additionally, he targeted Jack Krawczyk, the product lead for Gemini, accusing him of contributing to Google’s AI’s alleged racist and sexist tendencies.

This confrontation goes beyond Musk’s personal reputation. After expressing similar concerns about OpenAI’s ChatGPT, he founded his own AI company, launching Grok, a chatbot aiming to be funnier and less “politically correct” than its competitors. Musk is leveraging the Gemini controversy to highlight the advantages of an AI like Grok, sharing memes that praise xAI’s efforts as “maximum truth-seeking” in contrast to rivals.

Musk promises rapid improvements for Grok, with the release of version 1.5 scheduled in two weeks, emphasizing the importance of a “rigorous pursuit of truth, without regard for criticism”.

In a broader context, on February 28, Axel Springer, the parent company of Business Insider, joined 31 other media groups in filing a $2.3 billion lawsuit against Google in a Dutch court for losses suffered due to the company’s advertising practices.

This battle between Elon Musk and Google is not just a dispute between titanic personalities and tech companies but signals a broader reflection on the future of artificial intelligence, its impact on society, and the ethical implications of emerging technologies.

In a move that has sparked debates and reflections in the technology world and beyond, Google has announced a temporary suspension of its new artificial intelligence model, Gemini, from producing images of people following criticism over the ethnic portrayal of historical figures such as Second World War German soldiers and Vikings. These portrayals, which included people of color in historically traditionally associated with Caucasian figures, raised questions of historical accuracy and bias in AI.

Google’s decision to halt people image generation with Gemini comes after social media users shared examples of images produced by the tool depicting historical figures – including popes and the founding fathers of the US – in a variety of ethnicities and genders. “We are already working to address recent issues with Gemini’s image generation feature. While we do this, we will pause the image generation of people and will soon release an improved version,” Google said in a statement.

Although Google did not refer to specific images in its statement, examples of Gemini image results were widely available on X, accompanied by comments on AI’s issues with accuracy and bias. A former Google employee highlighted the difficulty in getting Google Gemini to recognize the existence of white people.

Jack Krawczyk, a senior director on Google’s Gemini team, admitted that the model’s image generator needed adjustments. “We are working to immediately improve these kinds of depictions,” he said. Krawczyk added that while Gemini’s AI image generation does produce a wide range of people, which is generally a good thing given its global user base, “it’s clear we missed the mark here.”

Coverage of bias in AI has highlighted numerous examples of negative impact on people of color, including a Washington Post investigation that showed examples of image generators showing bias against people of color and sexism. Andrew Rogoyski, from the Institute for People-Centered AI at the University of Surrey, commented that mitigating bias is a “difficult problem in most fields of deep learning and generative AI,” but it is likely that things will improve over time through research and various approaches to eliminating bias.

In conclusion, Google’s pause in generating images of people with Gemini underscores the importance of addressing and correcting bias in artificial intelligence, highlighting the need for constant attention to issues of fairness and inclusion in emerging technologies.

Google’s technological evolution is taking a significant turn with its AI chatbot, known until now as Google Bard, set to undergo a radical transformation by adopting the new name Gemini. This move marks not only a name change but also anticipates the integration of this artificial intelligence into an increased number of applications, promising to further expand its capabilities and accessibility.

The revelation comes from information disclosed by developer Dylan Roussel, who, through Engadget, shared details on a list of updates scheduled for Google Bard. The changes, expected to be announced on Wednesday, February 7th, will see the AI chatbot renamed Gemini, a name that currently identifies the next-generation AI model powering Bard. This decision to unify the names suggests a strategy aimed at simplifying and strengthening the service’s identity.

One of the most anticipated new features is the introduction of a dedicated Android app, at least in the United States, which will allow Gemini to integrate with other commonly used Google applications such as Gmail, Google Maps, and YouTube. For iPhone users, Google has announced that it will be possible to access Gemini through the existing Google app for iOS, thus ensuring a cross-platform experience.

In addition, rumors reveal the introduction of a paid subscription tier named Gemini Advanced. This move positions Google in direct competition with OpenAI and ChatGPT, which already offer artificial intelligence services with free and premium options. The integration of Gemini into apps like Google Messages, allowing users to interact with AI as they would with any other contact, underscores Google’s intention to make its virtual assistance increasingly accessible and integrated into users’ digital daily lives.

If confirmed, these innovations could represent one of the most significant moments for Google’s artificial intelligence projects, marking an important step towards the integration of AI across a wide range of services and applications. As Google advances in the field of artificial intelligence, Apple is also preparing to launch its generative AI initiatives with the introduction of iOS 18 later this year, promising an increasingly competitive landscape in the sector.

Google is about to usher in a new era in artificial intelligence with the upcoming integration of Bard, its AI-based chatbot, into Google Assistant, marking the beginning of a profound transformation for the virtual assistant.

This significant update comes at a pivotal moment, following a substantial staff reduction in the Bay Area and the removal of 17 functionalities from Google Assistant, indicating a clear intention by the company to renew and enhance its virtual assistant.

Despite Google’s previous announcement regarding the integration of Bard into Google Assistant, many details about the launch and functionality remain shrouded in mystery. However, leaked information offers a preview of what the AI overhaul will bring.

The integration is expected to leverage Google’s newly released Gemini family of Large Language Models (LLMs) to augment the virtual assistant’s capabilities. Information that has been made public suggests that the Bard-powered Google Assistant will be accessible through standard voice commands such as “Hey Google” or a double tap of the side buttons.

Upon activation, the Bard-enabled Google Assistant is said to offer users the option to issue voice commands, type questions using a keyboard, or even utilize images to contextualize queries.

An introductory message from 9to5Google highlights the expanding capabilities of the integrated assistant, reassuring users of its ongoing ability to provide hands-free support.

Anticipation is building among users and tech enthusiasts, who are eagerly awaiting an official announcement from Google regarding the revolutionary updates that will transform the Google Assistant experience.

This leap forward promises to elevate virtual assistance to a higher level, preparing users for a new era of more intuitive and versatile AI interactions.

A study published in Nature introduces AlphaGeometry, an advanced system capable of solving Olympiad-level geometry problems without human demonstrations. This breakthrough marks a significant milestone in human-level automated reasoning, especially in the geometric field, known for its complexities and challenges in translating into machine-verifiable formats.

A groundbreaking study published in Nature by Trieu H. Trinh, Yuhuai Wu, Quoc V. Le, He He, and Thang Luong has unveiled AlphaGeometry, a theorem prover for Euclidean plane geometry, representing a significant advancement in the field of automated reasoning.

This system is designed to overcome challenges posed by solving geometry problems at the Olympiad level, a notoriously difficult frontier in pre-university mathematics.

The uniqueness of AlphaGeometry lies in its ability to operate without human demonstrations, unlike previous machine learning approaches that required a costly process of translating mathematical proofs into a machine-verifiable format.

Particularly in the field of geometry, this obstacle was even more pronounced due to unique translation challenges and the subsequent scarcity of training data.

AlphaGeometry is a neuro-symbolic system that employs a neural language model, trained from scratch on a vast array of synthetic data, to guide a symbolic deduction engine through infinite branching points in complex problems. In terms of performance, this system has achieved remarkable results.

On a test set of 30 latest Olympiad-level geometry problems, AlphaGeometry solved 25, surpassing the previous most effective method that solved only ten and approaching the performance of an average International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) gold medalist.

One of the most impressive aspects of AlphaGeometry is its ability to produce human-readable proofs. It solved all geometry problems from the IMO 2000 and 2015 under human expert evaluation and discovered a generalized version of a translated IMO theorem from 2004. This represents not just a significant technological advancement but also a potential educational and research tool for mathematicians and students worldwide.

The development of AlphaGeometry marks a turning point in the automation of mathematical reasoning. While its immediate applications may be more apparent in the field of Olympiad mathematics, the implications of this research extend far beyond, suggesting a future where advanced artificial intelligence systems can tackle and solve complex problems across a variety of scientific and academic fields.