Google's evolution from a simple search engine to a global technological powerhouse is paved by innovation and resulting growth. A pivotal aspect of this growth trajectory has been its strategic investment in machine learning/Artificial Intelligence (AI).Google's maiden venture can be traced back to its foundational product, the search engine itself. The PageRank algorithm, responsible for ranking web pages based on relevance and significance, marked Google's initial foray into intelligent algorithms. With the progression of the digital era, Google's algorithms subsequently underwent continuous refinement, incorporating AI and machine learning techniques to enhance search accuracy and advertisement optimization.

Recognizing the extensive potential of AI, Google launched TensorFlow in 2015. This open-source machine learning platform empowered developers across the globe to explore and implement AI solutions. The democratization of AI development through TensorFlow led to a proliferation of AI applications across diverse sectors. Apart therefrom the acquisition of DeepMind, a leading AI research organization based in London in 2014, has to be regarded as one of the major milestones in Google’s AI journey. This move not only underscored Google's earnest commitment to AI but also set the stage for groundbreaking innovations. One of the best-known examples, thereto, is DeepMind's AlphaGo, the AI model that triumphed over the world champion Lee Sedol in the complex board game Go in 2016 (Go is a two-player board game considered to be the most complex of all strategy games known in the world).

Also in 2016, Google introduced Google Assistant, marking a shift in AI's accessibility, transcending the confines of research labs. Empowered by AI, Google Assistant facilitated voice recognition and natural language processing across various devices, including smartphones and smart speakers. This innovation enabled users to execute tasks, retrieve information, and manage smart devices through simple voice commands.

Since then Google has been integrating AI into its product portfolio wherever it was possible. Google Photos leverages AI for tasks such as image recognition and categorization, enhancing user experience. Google Translate, equipped with real-time translation functionalities, serves as a daily tool to overcome language barriers (although we believe that DeepL still achieves better results when translating texts in different languages). Google Maps employs AI to analyze real-time traffic data, providing users with optimal routing solutions.

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Google has been (further) developing many AI initiatives, most of them being introduced during Google’s annual developer conference Google I/O. As for instance, Google Maps has been revolutionized by AI, offering users eco-friendly routes, safer options, and personalized map details. Google Translate has introduced "Transcribe" in eight languages, facilitating real-time translations for events like lectures or interviews.

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One of the main focuses of Google’s developments towards AI still remains in the development of chatbots and beyond.

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Google Bard, Google’s AI-driven chatbot, is one of Google's innovative ventures into the realm of AI. Initially grounded in the Large Language Model, LaMDA, its foundation transitioned to PaLM 2 by May 2023. This development was catalyzed by the notable success of OpenAI's ChatGPT. Launched in a restricted capacity in March 2023, Bard's availability gradually expanded to a broader audience.

Drawing inspiration from literary history, the chatbot is christened after William Shakespeare, colloquially known as the "Bard of Avon".

In terms of functionality, Bard mirrors the conversational capabilities of ChatGPT, adeptly addressing a diverse array of queries. It harnesses online databases to furnish users with authentic and insightful responses. Underpinning Bard's operations are the Transformer neural network and Google's proprietary language model, LaMDA. Post its preliminary release, access to Bard was extended to users in the USA and the UK through a waitlist system. A significant announcement at Google I/O 2023 revealed Bard's expansion to over 180 countries, albeit with an exclusion of European Union nations - potentially due to GDPR compliance intricacies. This limitation was subsequently lifted by July 13, 2023, marking Bard's pan-European availability. However, as most of you may know, Bard's journey wasn't without challenges. A notable incident involved the chatbot disseminating an erroneous answer related to the James Webb Space Telescope, resulting in a substantial dip in Alphabet's market valuation.

In addition to the recent developments around Google Bard, Google is also in the phase of developing and testing Gemini - Google’s next-generation foundation model. The name "Gemini" stands for "Generalized Multimodal Intelligence Network," referring to its ability to process and interpret a variety of data formats, including text, images, and 3D models. This project, driven by industry leaders such as Sergey Brin and renowned teams such as Google Brain and DeepMind, aims to push the boundaries of what AI chatbots can do by integrating image generation technologies, therefore, aiming to provide users with a comprehensive and multimodal source of information.

Find more on Googles Gemini along with further developments on Google’s AI developments in Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, opening speech at Google’s annual developer conference: Google I/O (Information on Gemini 13:30)

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Another endeavor from Google is its Search Generative Experience (SGE), aiming to refine users’ search experience. This feature, soon to be on Chrome for desktops, offers concise summaries of extensive content. Once activated, users will be presented with AI-generated summaries, enriched with images and the possibility to ask follow-up questions to enhance the search results. Accordingly, SGE is intended to simplify the search for information and provide users with concise content. Enhancing the search experience, therefore, marks a clear strategic step for Google to defend its market segment against other (upcoming) AI tools targeting internet searching.

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Google's vision for AI is expansive, with plans to introduce generative AI tools across select web platforms, potentially offering AI-generated article summaries. With innovations like SGE and Gemini, Google envisions a future where AI is an integral part of our daily lives. Recent strategic moves, such as the merger of DeepMind with Brain, highlight Google's accelerated AI pursuits. The combined entity is exploring the potential of generative AI as a personal life coach, with Google DeepMind delving into a myriad of tasks, from life advice to tutoring.

All of these endeavors underscore Google's urgency to lead in AI and its growing trust in AI systems for nuanced tasks. Nevertheless, Google is also a strong advocate for the responsible use and development of AI. Therefore, Google has established principles for developing AI that have been guiding the company since 2018 - emphasizing responsibility and purpose-driven innovation.

These Principles are the following:

1. Be socially beneficial.
2. 2Avoid creating or reinforcing unfair bias.
3. Be built and tested for safety.
4. Be accountable to people.
5. Incorporate privacy design principles.
6. Uphold high standards of scientific excellence.
7. Be made available for uses that accord with these principles.

In conclusion, there are many interesting (further) AI developments to come from Google. Some of these will target Google's traditional business segments, while others will be in segments you wouldn't necessarily expect Google to be in, such as mitigating the environmental impact of the airline industry by preventing contrails (see our last issue).

We will certainly keep an eye on all of these developments and keep you informed.

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