The IT Nerd

Google Cloud’s latest blog post highlights the six ways Gmail users can use AI features to help save time and improve their workflow in their day-to-day. Both your work and social life can be filled with to-dos, so why not use AI to help with something like Gmail to keep the day interesting and productive? 

Along with the new “Help me write” feature in Gmail to help users in Workspace Labs make composing emails easier than ever, Gmail users have a number of access to a host of other AI-powered features — and have, in some cases, for years.

Below are some of the AI-powered features you may not know you have:

• “Help me write” can create entire email drafts for you based on simple prompts.
• Smart Compose is great to use when you aren’t looking for help writing an email draft from scratch, but you’d still love some suggestions along the way.
• Smart Reply to help generate up to three possible responses to emails you receive, in just two clicks.
• Tabbed inbox to make your inbox easier to navigate – not a maze of clutter to dig through. 
• Summary cards for those moments when you get a message with a lot of information, and just want the highlights. 
• And last but not least, Nudging, which reminds you to reply to or follow up on important messages, and is the first Gmail AI feature that runs on both emails you have received and sent. 

You can find the blog here.

Today, Google Canada announced the opening of applications for both the 2023 Google for Startups Accelerator: Black Founders and Women Founders programs. Committed to leveling the playing field for all founders in North America, this marks the fourth year both programs are open to startups in the U.S. and Canada.

As advancements in AI and machine learning prompt tech startups to grow, underrepresented founders continue to encounter disproportionate structural barriers – like lack of access to capital and support networks- preventing  opportunities to launch or scale their startups. In fact, studies have shown that: 

• In 2022, companies founded solely by women garnered just 2.1% of the total capital invested in venture-backed startups in the United States (source).
• In 2022, only 2% of venture capital funding raised in North America went to Black-led founders. More than 76% of Black Canadian founders surveyed believe their race is a barrier to success (source).

As part of its commitment to support  underrepresented founders, the Google for Startups Accelerator is excited to open applications for the 2023 Google for Startups Accelerator: Women Founders and Google for Startups Accelerator: Black Founders cohorts.  Twelve startups from U.S. and Canada will be selected to participate in each accelerator program. These virtual accelerator programs are equity-free, three-month intensive bootcamps, giving founders the tools they need to prepare for the next phase of their growth journey.  

You can learn more about the 2023 cohort of the Google for Startups Accelerator program for both Black Founders and Women Founders programs in their blog post. I’ve also provided a quote from Iran Karimian, Startup Ecosystem Lead for Google Canada if you prefer. Applications for the Google for Startups Accelerator Black Founders and Women Founders programs are now open to startups across all sectors until July 25 and August 2, respectively.

Today Google Cloud made several announcements about how it is helping organizations get started with generative AI. Here are the highlights below:

• New generative AI consulting services & resources, including high-touch trainings for executives, on-demand learning programs and industry use case blueprints. 
• New customers leveraging Google Cloud’s generative AI technologies including Priceline, Mayo Clinic, GA Telesis and PhotoRoom.
• New innovations with Google Cloud partners including Datastax, Neo4j, Twilio, and Typeface. 
• General availability of Generative AI support in Vertex AI, our machine learning development platform.
• Pre-order availability of Duet AI for Google Workspace Enterprise, which embeds the power of generative AI across Workspace to help people write, visualize, organize, accelerate workflows, have richer meetings, and much more.

Today, Google Cloud announced the availability of passkey technology in Google Workspace and Google Cloud in an open beta, making it the first major cloud provider to bring passkeys to enterprise and public sector organizations. This will enable more than 9 million organizations to use passkeys instead of passwords.

Google has a blog post on this that you can find here. 

In early May, Google announced passkey availability for consumers. Beyond dramatically boosting security, passkeys might finally replace the password for good, making life easier for employees everywhere and their IT teams.

Additional announcement highlights include: 

• Google data (March – April 2023) shows that passkeys are 2x faster and 4x less error prone than passwords, and are also more secure than SMS, app-based one-time passwords, and other forms of traditional two-factor authentication (2FA).
• Passkeys can dramatically reduce the impact of phishing attacks, password fatigue, and other social engineering cyber attacks.  
• Snap Inc. has already leveraged passkeys to help reduce the burden of password management and strengthen security for their employees. 

Today, during Google’s annual Google Marketing Live, Google executives showcased the latest product innovations across Google Ads and Commerce to help businesses thrive. You can view the event here:

Google’s latest AI-powered marketing solutions include:

• A new conversational experience in Google Ads + updates to automatically created assets that make it even easier to create and scale campaigns
• Generative AI in Performance Max for creating cross-channel, rich creatives in just a few clicks
• Product Studio to easily create unique and tailored product imagery for free
• New ad format experiments coming to Search Generative Experience in Search Labs

Read about these and more on their Keyword blog:

• Introducing a new era of AI-powered ads with Google by Jerry Dischler, VP and GM of Ads, Google
• New tools to help small businesses connect with online shoppers by Matt Madrigal, VP/GM, Merchant Shopping

Google announced a new security feature that will allow all US Gmail users to be able to use Google’s dark web report to discover if their email address has been found on the dark web and also take action with guidance provided by Google, such as turning on two-step authentication.

Originally only available to Google One plans, all Gmail accounts will now be regularly reminded to check if their email has been linked to any data breaches that ended up on nefarious cybercrime forums.

“And if any matching info is found on the dark web, we’ll notify you and provide guidance on how you might protect that information,” said Google One Director of Product Management Esteban Kozak.

Google also announced that it upgraded the Safe Browsing service on Chrome and Android to catch and block 25% more phishing attempts, and that Google added a new spam view in Google Drive.

Roy Akerman, Co-Founder & CEO, Rezonate had this to say:

   “Google’s extension of its dark web report beyond Google One plans is a step in the right direction and part of Google’s responsibility in the ecosystem. This will reduce compromised accounts and further fraudulent attempts against businesses who’s corporate’s credentials were compromised. However, we seen with Google One existing customers, they may be aware their information is available in the dark web, yet no action is taken. Knowing is not enough, action must be taken to understand the potential risk and account changes must be put in place.”

I’ve always argued that if you give users the tools to protect themselves, and more importantly educate them on how to use those tools, that will help users to become more secure. Google has got the part right these tools existing mostly right as this needs to go beyond US users. But I hope Google really pushes to promote this so as to make sure that as many people as possible know these tools exist and how to use them. Because a single announcement won’t do.

 With this year’s Google I/O keynote wrapped up, I wanted to do a post with some helpful resources that will help you keep track of everything Google announced today. 

I’ll start with Google’s latest blog post for more details on the updates that were announced at I/O this year.  Some of the biggest announcements include:

• Powerful new enterprise AI tools, including Duet AI for Google Cloud, a  generative AI-powered collaborator built for developers, and new foundation models and capabilities that make it easier for organizations to build with generative AI. There’s also a blog post with more info.
• Exciting Google Workspace features that leverage generative AI to boost your productivity, including features that help you quickly generative images from text and reply to emails based on content in the thread, as well as our newest Project Starline prototype, which now has a simpler design to easily fit into more homes and offices
• The introduction of PaLM 2 – Google’s next generation language model which will power nearly 20 new products and features
• Google unveiled details about new members of the Pixel family: Pixel Tablet and Pixel 7a and Pixel Fold 
• Google introduced Search Labs, a new way for you to sign up and test new products and ideas they are exploring
• Immersive View for routes in Maps to help you visualize every segment of your journey
• They shared details around features to be included in Android 14
• Multiple safety updates including Safe Browsing API and upcoming unknown tracker alerts

Is there something on this list that you’re interested in? If so, leave a comment below and share your thoughts.

Yesterday, Google announced that users can now sign into their Google account using passkeys instead of passwords or 2-step Verification. The move is part of the company’s efforts towards passwordless authentication and to further protect users from threats like phishing.

“This signature proves to us that the device is yours since it has the private key, that you were there to unlock it, and that you are actually trying to sign in to Google and not some intermediary phishing site,” Google’s Arnar Birgisson and Diana K Smetters said.

 Passkeys will be linked to each device where they’ve been added to the account allowing devices to be unlocked locally using a PIN or screen lock biometrics. Passkeys will be securely backed up and synced to the cloud and work across all major web browsers and platforms.
 
For now, passkeys will be an additional Google sign-in option ensuring that users have a fallback method and can log in using a password.

Roy Akerman, Co-Founder & CEO, Rezonate had this to say:

   “Only last year Google shared its intent to end passwords realizing that identity threats are a top priority, and right before password national day it takes a major step towards that goal. Google is not alone on this mission joining FIDO alliance, Apple, and Microsoft which are on the same path. As adoption increases, we will see a decrease in less secured 2FA (two factor authentication) options available. Passkeys are proven to resist online attacks such as phishing compared to the common SMS OTP (one time password) yet security teams should carefully review usage and attempts as attackers will try to bypass and be ahead of the game.”

I am a big fan of passkeys as this will solve a lot of problems in terms of online security that consumers have. Thus making them a lot safer as a result. Hopefully other companies jump onto the passkeys bandwagon as that will make users more safe in more places.

Cyber attacks increased globally by nearly 40 per cent last year, but despite the pressing need to address this threat, research shows that there are currently more than 25,000 unfilled cybersecurity jobs in Canada.This highlights the need for more experienced cyber security professionals in Canada, 

Today, Google Canada announced the launch of the Google Cybersecurity Certificate as the newest addition to the Google Career Certificates program, which provides job seekers with paths to careers in data analytics, IT support, project management and more. The course can be completed online and prepares learners for entry-level careers in cybersecurity in less than six months with no prior experience required.

To help create new opportunities and bring more diverse talent to the cybersecurity sector, Google is working with non-profit partners Canada Learning Code and ComIT to build bespoke training programs and grant 1,500 scholarships to learners in their networks who identify as women, newcomers and underrepresented Canadians.  

About Google Cybersecurity Career Certificates

The Cybersecurity Certificate builds on the success of Google’s Career Certificate Programs in Canada, which offer job seekers affordable pathways to careers in data analytics, IT support, business intelligence and more.

76% of Canadian graduates from Google Career Certificate Programs report positive outcomes, including securing new jobs, higher pay or promotions within six months of completion.

Google Career Certificates were developed by Google employees as part of Grow with Google, a global initiative designed to create economic opportunities. 

Certificate programs are available in Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, Project Management, UX Design, IT Support and more.

Google’s latest blog post has more details.