US tech giant initiates charm offensive on AI, offering basic courses for firms to grasp and capitalize on the emerging phenomenon.
Michelle Donelan, UK science and innovation secretary, enthusiastically commends Google’s AI training initiative via a video appearance at their London headquarters. She lauds the significance and broad scope of the program, citing the transformative potential of AI tools like ChatGPT and Google’s Bard.
In the AI arms race, countries vie to attract investments and research in emerging technology. Google’s move is seen as a vote of confidence in the UK’s aspiration to become a leading hub for AI innovation, both intellectually and geographically. The UK, led by Rishi Sunak’s government, has been exceptionally welcoming to tech firms, particularly AI companies, offering them red carpet treatment.
Google’s educational courses focus on AI fundamentals, aiming to empower individuals, businesses, and organizations with essential skills in this burgeoning technology.
The tuition is divided into ten modules, each presented in 45-minute sessions, covering a range of topics. Two modules, focused on enhancing productivity and comprehending machine learning, are already accessible.
The courses are designed to be simple, providing an introduction to AI without the need for any prior technological background, according to Google.
Approximately 50 individuals, including small business owners, participated in the inaugural course held at Google’s King’s Cross offices in London last week. The location is in close proximity to the site where the impressive £1 billion new UK headquarters, featuring a rooftop exercise trail and pool, is currently under construction.
According to the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), 43% of managers expressed worries about job security in their organizations due to AI technologies. Surprisingly, only 7% of managers reported that their employees received adequate training in AI, even for prominent tools like ChatGPT.
Anthony Painter, the CMI’s director of policy, held discussions with Google executives and small business representatives during the training launch. He emphasized that AI presents significant opportunities but also carries substantial risks, urging for careful consideration to strike the right balance.
Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta are in a race to develop cutting-edge AI tools, aiming to gain a competitive advantage in what experts see as a winner-takes-all contest with boundless profit opportunities.
In March, Google introduced Bard, its chatbot, in both the US and UK, designed to compete with OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Microsoft’s Bing Chat. Bard boasts the capability to answer intricate questions, provide creative responses, and hold engaging conversations. Meanwhile, Meta’s parent company, Facebook, has recently released Llama 2, an open-source AI model.
