April 2018 Summaries

In collaboration with Udacity, Google's "Grow with Google" initiative is awarding 5,000 Nanodegree program scholarships to aspiring developers in the United States to enhance their digital skills and prepare for careers as Android or Mobile Web developers. Participants completed a challenge course at Udacity, which involved over 100 hours of coursework, building project portfolios, and community engagement, and the top performers are being offered full scholarships to continue their training. Completing a Nanodegree program provides scholars with industry-recognized credentials, preparing them for Google's Developer Certifications and increasing job opportunities in a market with over 500,000 open computing jobs. The initiative highlights personal stories of determination and community impact, such as Bela from Tennessee, Desmend from Illinois, Sean from Alabama, and Demetra from New York, showcasing the program's potential to transform lives and careers. This effort is part of Google's mission to create economic opportunities for Americans through accessible tools, training, and events.

The 2018 China-U.S. Young Maker Competition, co-organized by Hackster.IO and sponsored by Google, invites makers, developers, and students aged 18-40 from China and the United States to submit innovative projects focusing on areas such as community development, education, environmental protection, health, fitness, energy, transportation, and sustainable development. This competition, part of the U.S.-China High-Level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange program since 2014, allows participants to use technologies like TensorFlow, AIY Projects, Android Studio, and Android Things. The top 10 U.S. projects will win a trip to Beijing to compete against Chinese counterparts from August 13-17 for a chance to win $30,000 and additional Google prizes. Further details are available on Hackster.IO.

AIY Projects has launched updated versions of its DIY kits, Voice Kit and Vision Kit, designed to integrate AI into STEM learning and enable makers to build AI-powered devices. These kits are now more user-friendly with clearer instructions, a new Android app for wireless setup, and all necessary components, including the Raspberry Pi Zero WH and pre-provisioned SD card, included in one package. The Voice Kit allows users to create a voice-controlled speaker, while the Vision Kit enables them to build a camera capable of recognizing people and objects. The kits, which are available at Target stores and online, aim to equip students with essential computer science skills for future careers by supporting educators in integrating these tools into STEM lesson plans. AIY Projects is also working on expanding global availability and enhancing the kits based on user feedback collected at events like the Maker Faire and the ISTE conference.

Bias in text embedding models, commonly used in machine learning for tasks such as sentiment analysis and messaging applications, can lead to problematic associations due to the inherent biases present in the data used for training. These biases, such as associating certain professions with specific genders or attributing different sentiments to names based on race, can affect the performance and fairness of applications. Tests like the Word Embedding Association Test (WEAT) help identify these biases by measuring associations between words in the embedding space. Two case studies are discussed: Tia's sentiment analysis tool, which reveals biases in sentiment scores linked to names, and Tamera's messaging app, which highlights gender biases in suggested replies. The document emphasizes the importance of recognizing these biases and considering them when developing applications, as no single solution exists to address all forms of bias. It encourages ongoing research and dialogue to better understand and mitigate the unintended effects of these biases in machine learning models.

In April 2018, Jen Person announced on the Firebase Blog that Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) would replace Google Cloud Messaging (GCM), with a deadline for migration set for April 11, 2019. FCM offers enhanced features over GCM, including an intuitive notifications interface, better reporting, and integration with other Firebase products like A/B Testing and Predictions, enabling more targeted and efficient user engagement. To facilitate the transition, a detailed migration guide was provided, outlining necessary changes to console-side, app-side, and server-side elements. Developers were reassured that existing GCM tokens would remain functional with FCM, ensuring uninterrupted message delivery. The blog emphasized FCM's backward compatibility with GCM, allowing developers to upgrade at their own pace and encouraged them to utilize available resources and support channels for a smooth transition.

Google I/O 2018 has updated its schedule, offering additional sessions, Codelabs, and events such as App Reviews, Office Hours, and After Hours activities, with times and locations now available for attendees to plan accordingly. This year introduces a series of Keynote Sessions that explore the broader impact of technology, and attendees can reserve seats for sessions in advance if registered with the same email address used for the event, with some spots available on a first-come, first-served basis. The event features over 160 technical and Keynote Sessions, Sandbox domes for interactive product demonstrations, and opportunities to engage with Google experts during Office Hours and App Reviews. Codelabs offer self-paced tutorials on the latest Google technologies, and for those unable to attend in person, many keynotes and sessions will be livestreamed, with I/O Extended viewing parties available for community engagement. The event is 27 days away, with ongoing updates to assist attendees in preparing for the experience.

The TensorFlow Dev Summit 2018 showcased numerous advancements and updates aimed at enhancing the developer experience and expanding the applications of TensorFlow. The event highlighted the transformative impact of machine learning, with TensorFlow being utilized in diverse fields such as astrophysics, medicine, air traffic control, rainforest conservation, and agriculture. Notable announcements included the introduction of eager execution for a simpler programming model, TensorFlow Hub for sharing reusable models, and updates to TensorFlow Lite for efficient deployment on mobile and edge devices. Additionally, new support for languages like JavaScript and Swift was announced, alongside enhancements in performance through collaborations with NVIDIA and Intel. The summit also introduced TensorFlow Probability for Bayesian analysis, Nucleus for genomics research, and initiatives to strengthen community engagement through the TensorFlow blog, YouTube channel, and Special Interest Groups, reinforcing TensorFlow's commitment to solving complex global challenges.

Launchpad Accelerator, a Google initiative connecting global startups with its resources, has expanded its reach by introducing new regional programs in Tel Aviv, Lagos, and São Paulo, in addition to its existing San Francisco location. These expansions are aimed at fostering local startup ecosystems by providing tailored support in areas like AI/ML, leadership, and access to global capital. In Tel Aviv, the focus is on machine learning startups, while Lagos hosts seed-stage companies addressing market challenges across various sectors, and São Paulo targets growth-stage companies. This move underscores Google's long-term commitment to collaborating with and learning from startups worldwide, offering more customized programs and strengthening partnerships with local ecosystems.

Google Fonts launched official support for Korean web fonts, enhancing access for designers and developers working with the Hangul writing system. This development follows years of experimenting with efficient ways to serve large Chinese, Japanese, and Korean (CJK) font files, thanks to foundational technologies like WOFF2 and CSS3 unicode-range. The Google team tackled the challenge of delivering extensive Korean fonts, which require over ten thousand characters, by introducing a slicing strategy that clusters characters based on usage patterns, minimizing HTTP requests. This initiative, which debuted with five fonts from Sandoll and has expanded to 23 families, benefits from cross-site caching, allowing for faster page loads. The unicode-range feature, supported by major browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, is central to this efficiency, enabling seamless delivery of font subsets. The launch included a digital specimen site to showcase Korean typography, illustrating the practical application of these enhancements.