Bringing the power of generative AI to developers and businesses through Google Cloud and MakerSuite, while introducing new AI-powered features in Google Workspace
Google has announced the release of the next phase of generative artificial intelligence (AI) innovation in core areas of its business. With the launch of new APIs and products, Google Cloud and a new prototyping environment called MakerSuite, it is now easier, safer, and more scalable to build with Google’s top AI models. Meanwhile, Google Workspace has introduced new features that allow users to harness the power of generative AI for improved creativity, connectivity, and collaboration.
According to Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, breakthroughs in generative AI are fundamentally changing how people interact with technology. To ensure the responsible development of large language models, Google has been working to safely integrate them into its products. The company’s ultimate goal is to partner with others to further improve its AI models so that they are both safe and helpful for everyone. Google is excited about the potential of generative AI, which could lead to opportunities such as enabling people to express themselves creatively, assisting developers in building new types of applications, and transforming how businesses and governments engage with customers and constituents.
For developers seeking to build the next generation of applications with generative AI, Google is introducing the PaLM application programming interface (API). This new offering makes it easy and safe to experiment with Google’s top large language models. The company has already made an efficient model available in terms of size and capabilities, with other sizes set to be added soon. Additionally, the API comes with an intuitive tool called MakerSuite, which allows developers to prototype ideas quickly. Over time, the tool will have more features for prompt engineering, synthetic data generation, and custom-model tuning, all supported by robust safety tools.
The PaLM API and MakerSuite are currently available to select developers in Private Preview.
Bringing generative AI capabilities to Google Cloud
To enable developers and organizations to access enterprise-level safety, security, and privacy while integrating with their existing Google Cloud solutions, Google is adding new generative AI capabilities to its Google Cloud AI portfolio. The following features are included:
- Generative AI support in Vertex AI: Developers and businesses already use Google Cloud’s Vertex AI platform to build and deploy machine learning (ML) models and AI applications at scale. Today, Google Cloud is announcing Generative AI support in Vertex AI, which offers the simplest way for data science teams to take advantage of foundation models like PaLM, in a way that provides them with the most choice and control. Generative AI support in Vertex AI will initially provide foundation models for generating text and images, and over time with audio and video. Google Cloud customers will have the ability to discover models, create and modify prompts, fine tune them with their own data, and deploy applications that use these powerful new technologies.
- Generative AI App Builder: Businesses and governments also want to build their own AI-powered chat interfaces and digital assistants. To enable this, Google Cloud is introducing Generative AI App Builder, which provides the fastest way for developers to jumpstart the creation of generative AI applications—or gen apps—such as bots, chat apps, digital assistants, custom search engines, and more, with limited technical expertise required. With API access to Google’s foundation models, developers can use out-of-the-box templates to jumpstart the creation of gen apps in minutes or hours.
Google Cloud is committed to providing organizations with complete control over how their data is used across its platforms. This means ensuring that businesses can make informed decisions on whether, how, and for what purpose their data is utilized.
To further this goal, Google Cloud has introduced Generative AI support in its Vertex AI and Generative AI App Builder platforms. This will enable trusted testers to access the latest generative AI features and experiment with new applications in a safe and secure manner.
For those interested in early access opportunities and updates on Generative AI developments, Google Cloud encourages them to join the Google Cloud Innovators technical community.
With these new developments, Google Cloud aims to help organizations leverage the power of AI to enhance their business operations while maintaining full control and ensuring the highest levels of security and privacy.
Building the most open and innovative AI ecosystem
Google Cloud is committed to being the most open cloud provider, and as part of this effort, the company is making the best of its infrastructure, AI products, and foundation models available to partners at every level of the AI stack. This includes chipmakers, companies building foundation models and AI platforms, technology partners enabling ML model development and deployment, app builders utilizing generative AI, and global consulting firms that help enterprise customers implement this technology.
To support this initiative, Google Cloud is launching Built with Google Cloud AI, an initiative aimed at helping independent software vendor (ISV) partners build applications using Google Cloud AI services. The program provides dedicated access to Google Cloud expertise, training, and co-marketing support to help partners build capacity and take their solutions to market.
Google Cloud is also expanding its Google for Startups Cloud Program, which will now offer exclusive benefits for AI startups in the seed to series A stages. These benefits include access to Google Cloud resources, including AI infrastructure and products, training, and networking opportunities.
With these initiatives, Google Cloud aims to help partners and startups leverage AI technology to drive innovation and growth, while also fostering a more open and collaborative AI ecosystem:
- More than double the amount of cloud credits: AI-first startups can access up to US$250,000 in Google Cloud credits for their first year – 2.5 times the amount typically offered to startups in their first year. In their second year in the program, Google Cloud will cover 20% of their cloud costs of up to US$100,000.
- Free customer care and enhanced support: AI startups are innovating quickly, so Google Cloud is providing 24/7 access to fast, high-quality technical support to accelerate onboarding and implementation.
- Access to Google Cloud experts and community: Startups in the program will get access to Google Cloud success managers, customer engineers, and networking events with the startup community.
Interested AI startups can now apply to join the program.
New generative AI features in Google Workspace
Google has announced its plans to integrate generative AI into its Google Workspace suite to help individuals achieve their goals more efficiently. This move follows the success of AI-powered features such as Smart Compose and Smart Reply in Gmail, auto-generating summaries in Google Docs, and staying safe against malware and phishing attacks. With the new generative AI capabilities, users can type a topic they would like to write about in Docs or Gmail, and a draft will instantly be generated for them. The feature will also help users refine and edit their writing and adopt the appropriate tone and style for different contexts. Google plans to roll out these capabilities to trusted testers throughout the year before making them publicly available. The company will continue to rely on its AI Principles to guide its work and make its products safe for customers worldwide.
