March 2019 Summaries

In March 2019, Google introduced updates to the Google Groups Settings API as part of their continuous efforts to enhance user experience based on feedback. These changes, which began rolling out on March 25, 2019, include several key modifications such as the non-merging of the 'membersCanPostAsTheGroup' property into 'whoCanModerateContent', the continuation of support for 'MODERATE_NEW_MEMBERS' under 'messageModerationLevel', and the introduction of the 'customRoleUsedInMergedSetting' property to indicate the use of custom roles within group settings. Additionally, a new property 'whoCanDiscoverGroup' was added to reflect changes in group directory visibility. While these updates aim to streamline API interactions, users employing custom roles should verify permissions directly within the Groups interface, as the API does not support custom roles and might display incorrect permission values.

The Launchpad Accelerator program, led by Roy Glasberg, is designed to accelerate innovation and aid startups in developing world-class technologies by leveraging Google's resources. In September 2018, the program welcomed ten leading FinTech startups to fast-track their use of advanced technologies, culminating in their graduation at the inaugural event, "The Future of Finance," on March 15, 2019. These startups are tackling financial inclusion and innovation, from blockchain integration to mobile banking, with notable achievements such as JUMO's improvement in predictive capabilities, Aye Finance's $30 million Series D equity round, and Starling Bank's job creation and significant funding. The program emphasizes the global impact of applied machine learning and artificial intelligence in the finance sector, ensuring broader access to financial services and insights.

Launchpad Accelerator has announced the selection of new startup cohorts from Africa, Brazil, and India, highlighting their innovative use of technology to address regional challenges. After reviewing over 1,000 applications, the chosen startups are set to participate in tailored programs that connect them with Google's network and resources. In Africa, the selected startups, hailing from countries like Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa, are working on solutions ranging from digital banking and healthcare innovations to logistics and education platforms. In India, the focus is on startups leveraging machine learning and artificial intelligence to tackle industry-specific problems, including financial solutions, healthcare data analytics, and conversational AI in vernacular languages. Brazilian startups are exploring applications of machine learning for financial services, health tech, and customer engagement. The accelerator provides these startups with access to mentors, resources, and a global network, aiming to foster their growth and success.

Google's Coral platform, introduced in public beta, is designed to facilitate the development of intelligent devices using local AI by providing a comprehensive toolkit that includes hardware components, software tools, and content for creating, training, and deploying neural networks on devices. Coral emphasizes local neural network acceleration for enhanced performance and privacy, offering power-efficient packages. The platform's hardware, such as the Edge TPU, Coral Dev Board, and USB Accelerator, supports fast prototyping and seamless integration into existing systems, with PCIe versions forthcoming. Software tools are based on TensorFlow and TensorFlow Lite, allowing for the use and re-training of pre-compiled models, while integration with Google Cloud IoT enables managed edge computing capabilities. Coral aims to simplify the transition from prototype to production, offering resources such as schematics for custom carrier boards, and invites developers to explore its capabilities during the public beta phase.