As a part of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for social good, Google has announced the launch of AI Impact Challenge.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports the Google AI Impact Challenge is open to nonprofits, academics, and social enterprises from around the world to submit proposals on how they could use AI to help address some of the world’s greatest social, humanitarian and environmental problems.
Selected organizations will receive support from Google’s AI experts, Google grant funding from a $25 million pool, credit and consulting from Google Cloud, and more.
Grantees will also join a specialized Launchpad Accelerator program, and Google promises to tailor additional support to each project’s needs in collaboration with data science nonprofit DataKind.
In spring of 2019, an international panel of experts, who work in computer science and the social sector, will help Google choose the top proposals.
“At Google, we believe that artificial intelligence can provide new ways of approaching problems and meaningfully improve people’s lives.
“That’s why we’re excited to support organizations that are using the power of AI to address social and environmental challenges.
“Selected organizations will receive customized support to help bring their ideas to life: coaching from Google’s AI experts, Google.org grant funding from a $25M pool, credit and consulting from Google Cloud, and more.
“We’re looking for projects across a range of social impact domains and levels of technical expertise, from organizations that are experienced in AI to those with an idea for how they could be putting their data to better use,” the Internet giant stated.
Google said AI Impact Challenge applicants do not necessarily have to be AI experts, stressing that the Impact Challenge is for any nonprofit or researcher that has a great idea.
The firm has also built, for nonprofits or researchers that want help brainstorming ideas, an educational guide with introductions to AI and the types of problems it’s well-suited for, as well as workshops in key locations around the world.
Organizations around the world have until 11:59:59pm PST January 22, 2019 to submit applications.
After the deadline, Google and its panel of experts will review proposals and announce grant recipients in spring 2019.
Tag: Google
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Google launches $25m AI Impact Challenge to address world issues
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Google celebrates Stella Adadevoh On 62nd posthumous birthday
Tech giant, Google is celebrating late Nigerian medic Stella Adadevoh on her 62nd posthumous birthday with a doodle.
Doodles are changes made to the Google logo to celebrate holidays, anniversaries, and the lives of famous artists, pioneers, and scientists.
“Today our #Googledoodle celebrates the life of Stella Adadevoh, the Nigerian doctor, who helped stop the spread of Ebola in the country during the 2014 outbreak,” Google said in a statement.
Adadevoh, a consultant physician and endocrinologist, died after contracting the deadly Ebola virus while treating a Liberian-American, Patrick Sawyer, and other victims of the disease in Nigeria.
Adadevoh became a national hero after diagnosing and containing Nigeria’s first-ever Ebola patient in July 2014, although she has never seen an Ebola patient before.
When threatened by Liberian officials who wanted the patient to be discharged to attend a conference, she resisted the pressure and said, “for the greater public good” she would not release him.
Since Nigeria’s health system was not prepared for an outbreak at the time, she contracted Ebola and died alongside 3 of her colleagues. Her heroic efforts prevented a major outbreak in the most populous African country and served as the catalyst for successful government action to contain the spread of what would have been a major outbreak in a country of more than 190 million people.
As a result of her keen perception, courage, and steadfastness, all 20 Ebola cases in Nigeria were traced to a single path of transmission originating with the first (index) patient who took a flight from Monrovia, Liberia to Lagos. -
Google latest to withdraw from Saudi conference
Google said in a statement that Google Cloud Chief Executive Diane Greene would not attend the Future Investment Initiative Summit scheduled to be held in Riyadh starting October 23.
Google’s Greene did not offer a reason for her action, and a spokesman declined to elaborate on Tuesday.
Other business leaders, who have said they would not attend the conference, including Uber Chief Executive Dara Khosrowshahi, said they were concerned about Khashoggi’s disappearance.
Earlier this year Google announced that it would work with a Saudi agency to open five innovation hubs in the country to train aspiring technologists.
Alphabet Inc’s Google on Monday became the latest company to drop out of a business conference in Saudi Arabia.
Pressure has mounted on Saudi Arabia since prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a U.S. resident, Washington Post columnist and critic of Saudi policies, went missing.
He was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2.
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Impact Challenge: Google to select 12 finalists from over 5,500 entries
Google on Monday said application process of the ongoing Google Impact Challenge in Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa closed with over 5,500 entries.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports the Internet Search giant, at Google for Nigeria in July 2017, announced that Google.org would be investing $20m in non-profits working across the African continent over the next five years.
May this year, Google took the announcement a step farther in making the Google.org $20m investment in Africa a reality through the launch of the Google Impact Challenge 2018, the first the firm would be running the Impact Challenge in Africa.
“Many African innovators are doing great work with real impact and we’re keen to shine a light on them, and give a financial boost to their projects and ideas. The process of selecting the 12 finalists has begun and the winners will be unveiled on November 28 in Lagos, Nairobi and South Africa,” Google said on Monday.
The Internet Search giant is going to rely on the public to help in selecting the best ideas presented by nonprofits and social enterprises in the Impact Challenge.
The public will vote for the idea they believe has the most potential, and judges will select 3 more winners after hearing in-person pitches from a set of finalists.
The winning nonprofits and social enterprises will receive cash as well as access to guidance, technical assistance and mentorship from Google, which they are free to take up should they so choose.
“Many African non-profit organisations are using technology in innovative ways. However, access to funding and technological know-how is often a barrier to other, equally-ambitious projects getting off the ground. We want the Google Impact Challenge to change that, as well as encourage the entire non-profit sector to think big,” said Mzamo Masito, Google Head of Marketing, Africa.
Meanwhile, the Search giant said its Grow with Google Initiatives, aimed at getting people in Africa the right skills and tools to make the digital world work for them, their businesses and their communities, have trained more than 2.5 million Africans.
“We’ve also trained more than 9,000 Africans developers who are on their way to becoming Google certified. And together with our partners Udacity and Andela, we’ve provided 15,000 two-month “single course” scholarships and 500 six-month nanodegree scholarships to aspiring and professional developers across Africa,” Google stated.
TNG reports each country involved in the Google Impact Challenge 2018 has $2m to be awarded to 4 winners and 8 runners up.
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Five exciting things to do with a VR headset
While virtual reality might seem like a recent technology, that’s far from the truth because we’ve had bits and pieces of it before. Since the 1960s we have seen prototypes of immersive stereoscopic videos, motion-tracking headsets and interactive Google Street View-like experiences.
The fact is that it is only in recent years that the technology has matured and been made available for the public. Do you often think of things to do with a VR headset? Are there experiences you wish you could do that you think are impossible? It’ll surprise you to hear what you can do with a VR headset.
Feel Free Like a Bird
Humans have always been inspired by the flying of birds as is evident in many inventions. It’s only natural that it should be one of the things to do with a VR headset. Unlike other inventions, with the VR headset, you are the one doing the flying.
Exploring Places
With a VR headset, you can have the experience of your favourite destination right in your bedroom.
Artwork in 3D
Creating art with the Tilt Brush is definitely one of the things to do with a VR headset. The 3D effect of the strokes is mind-blowing. You can go around your work and have some of the paintings suspended in mid-air. The kind of images you can make is limitless. They range from abstract to representational and realistic. Even if you can’t paint, you’ll still be able to use the brush as a spray can.
Dining at a Choice Place
Being able to eat wherever you choose is amazing. This is not limited to restaurants alone, but even open space, in the air, or surrounded by animals. Sony is presently working on this VR experience.
Better Blueprints for Architects
Deciding your house design is another thing to do with a VR headset. Arch Virtual creates VR apps for architectural companies. This app doesn’t have a pre-built house for you to look at but open spaces. With computer models as the digital blueprints, Arch Virtual creates a three-dimensional animation of the interior. Once in the Oculus Rift D2K, you can examine every part of the building.
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Google makes progress in addressing competition concerns
European Competition Commissioner, Margrethe Vestager on Friday said Google’s proposals to increase competition in online shopping are bearing fruit.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Europe’s antitrust chief suggested that the Internet giant may be able to avoid further fines by so doing.
Vestager said she saw further improvement since Google’s first report in June showed some rivals had benefited from the company’s action.
“We had another compliance report… and we see improvements in numbers but we are still following it very, very closely and have taken no decision yet,” she told a briefing on the sidelines of the Globsec Tatra Summit.
Alphabet’s Google last year offered to allow price-comparison rivals to bid for advertising space at the top of a search page, giving them the chance to compete on equal terms, seeking to appease regulators after the European Commission fined it a record EUR 2.4 billion ($2.8 billion) for favouring its own service.
The US company submitted a second progress report at the end of September and failure to comply with the EU competition enforcer’s order could expose it to fines of up to 5 percent of its average daily global turnover.
“I take a keen interest in what some of the other shopping comparison services say. Having met with a couple of them, of course that raises new questions for us,” Vestager.
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Google keys into Facebook’s machine learning initiative
Google has announced broadening, throughout its Cloud’s artificial intelligence (AI) platforms and services, support for PyTorch, keying into the Facebook’s open source Machine Learning (ML) framework.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports this is following the release of an updated version of the deep learning framework, PyTorch 1.0 Preview, by Facebook on Tuesday.
With the release of PyTorch 1.0 Preview, designed for easy and flexible experimentation, the framework now supports a fully hybrid Python and C/C++ front-end as well as fast, native distributed execution for production environments.
“Today, we’re pleased to announce that engineers on Google’s TPU team are actively collaborating with core PyTorch developers to connect PyTorch to Cloud TPUs.
“The long-term goal is to enable everyone to enjoy the simplicity and flexibility of PyTorch while benefiting from the performance, scalability, and cost-efficiency of Cloud TPUs.
“Here at Google Cloud, we aim to support the full spectrum of machine learning (ML) practitioners, ranging from students and entrepreneurs who are just getting started to the world’s top research and engineering teams.
“ML developers use many different tools, and we’ve integrated several of the most popular open source frameworks into our products and services, including TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn, and XGBoost,” said Rajen Sheth, Director of Product Management, Google Cloud.
Facebook’s Product Manager in charge of AI, Joseph Spisak, said PyTorch 1.0 accelerates the workflow involved in taking breakthrough research in AI to production deployment.
“With deeper cloud service support, developers can more easily take advantage of PyTorch’s ecosystem of compatible software, hardware, and developer tools.
“The more software and hardware that is compatible with PyTorch 1.0, the easier it will be for AI developers to quickly build, train, and deploy state-of-the-art deep learning models,” he further stated.
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Google Free WiFi: Traders in Computer Village express different views on operation
Some traders at the Computer Village in Ikeja, Lagos, have expressed divergent views about the effectiveness of the Google Free Wifi service installed in the market.
The traders in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Lagos expressed gratitude for the gesture by Google, and some said that the service was not yet as effective as it should be.
Google had launched its free WiFi service called the Google Station for Nigerians in Ikeja, Lekki and other parts of Lagos.
The tech giant had on September 20th installed six work stations in Computer Village in order to provide free Internet service in the environ.
Mr Adeniyi Ojikutu, the President, Computer and Applied Products Dealers Association of Nigeria (CAPDAN), told NAN that the Google free WiFi was very effective.
“This service is very effective, and I have been using it in my office since its installation.
“There is cause for Google to be commended. The service is so efficient that even when the network trips off, it reconnects immediately in spite of the volume of users,’’ Ojikutu said.
The CAPDAN president said that the service had saved him money which he would have spent to buy data to power his internet.
Mr Chinedu Osuala, a dealer in information technology equipment, however, said that the WiFi was not serving its purpose.
According to him, the network is so weak that heavy task cannot be performed on it.
“Even to send a Whatsapp message is very difficult due to the weak network,’’ Osuala said.
He said that since the installation of the free WiFi service on Sept. 20, he had not been able to carry out any meaningful Internet transaction successfully with it.
Mr Joseph Etim, a manager with the Computer Village Hub (Cvhub) said that the free WiFi service was commendable and was a plus for the computer village, a known hub for IT equipment and services.
Etim, however, said that use of public Internet was not very safe as it could make one’s personal details available to be captured for marketing purposes.
“There is nothing free about this service because when accessing public Internet, it means that one will disclose his or her personal details.
“This personal details can be used for anything,’’ Etim said, adding that personal details of individuals when collated could cost money.
However, Google Country Director in Nigeria, Juliet Ehimuan-Chiazor, said: “It is live in some locations already like the MMA 2, Ikeja City Mall, the Palms, Lekki, Computer Village and the University of Lagos (UNILAG).”
She said that Google collaborated with a fibre network provider, 21st Century to launch the Google Station.
According to her, the free Wi-Fi service will be launched in 200 locations in five cities across Nigeria by the end of 2019.
Also, a Google Brand Ambassador, who preferred to be called Greg, said that all the fears about the service were unfounded as the WiFi was effective.
Greg said that users expected that the network should be accessible even inside their shops, adding that this was not so as the effectiveness of the service depended on the distance between the router and the user.
He said that the user should not be more than 50 km from the router if he or she wanted excellent service.
“Basically, the purpose of the free WiFi is to get more people connected and allow Nigerians to access the internet at a lower data rate.
“It allows you to watch, read or download information, movies, video among others, and to share information with someone that has the app.
“It does not buffer or stream or advert before you download.
“The free WiFi is effective because at some certain kilometres from the router the signal strength tends to be low this is why it may seem not to be so effective to some people.
“People expect and have said that the service should be at their own comfort, but this is not possible due to the volume of users,’’ Greg said.
There are six WiFi work station locations in the Computer Village and the environ, namely: Aina Street, Olayemi Street, Otigba Street, Oshitelu Street, Oremeji Street and the CAPDAN office.
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Google marks Nigeria Independence Day 2018
Internet giant, Google on Monday joined Nigerians in marking the nation’s 58th Independence celebrations with a Doodle on the homepage of its website.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports a Google Doodle is a special, temporary alteration of the logo on Google’s homepages that commemorates holidays, events, achievements, and people.
“Today’s Doodle celebrates the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Africa’s most populous country) which is a place as big as it is culturally diverse.
“Mixing cultures is one of the hallmarks of this West African country. Over 500 languages are spoken here, some dating back more than 4,000 years.
“Independence Day is all about national integration, as the nation commemorates its declaration of independence from the British Empire in 1960.
“The green and white flag flies in all 36 Nigerian states: green standing for agriculture, white for peace and unity,” Google noted.
Nigeria marked the 58th Independence in colourful parade at the Eagle Square, Abuja, after a 7-year hiatus.
President Muhammadu Buhari took the salute as military and para-military organizations held a colourful parade in commemoration of the nation’s Independence.
The event was the first full-fledged Independence Day parade since the celebration was marred by an explosion, which occurred near Eagle Square on October 1, 2010.
Google also send best wishes to Nigerians with the message: “Happy Independence Day to Nigeria and to the Nigerian diaspora worldwide. Long may you march to your own beat(s)! Happy 58th Independence Day Nigeria!”