Tag Archives: Google Cloud

Business, Mobile, News

Google and HONOR Collaborate for AI-Powered Magic in the Magic V3

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HONOR has announced a strategic partnership with Google Cloud to bring advanced AI features to its upcoming flagship foldable smartphone, the HONOR Magic V3. This collaboration aims to enhance the user experience and provide innovative solutions for everyday tasks.

HONOR Magic V3 Partnership with Google Cloud

AI-Powered Innovations

The collaboration sees Honor incorporating Google Cloud’s AI technologies into features that it touts will change the user experience on its flagships. Among them are:

  • HONOR AI Eraser: Remove unwanted objects from your photos with ease using this powerful AI tool.
  • Face-to-Face Translation: Break down language barriers with real-time translation during conversations.
  • HONOR Notes with Voice to Text: Effortlessly convert spoken words into text for quick and easy note-taking.

Magic Portal Improves with the Magic V3

The Magic V3 introduces the innovative Magic Portal, which allows you to seamlessly interact with apps and information. Simply circle text, addresses, or images with your knuckle and drag them into apps like Google, WhatsApp, or social media platforms. The Magic V3 even allows you to open two Magic Portals simultaneously for enhanced multitasking capabilities.

The HONOR Magic V3 boasts a remarkably thin and light design, making it one of the most compact foldable smartphones on the market. This sleek form factor doesn’t compromise on performance or battery life, allowing you to enjoy a premium foldable experience without sacrificing portability.

Experience the Magic V3 at the Roadshow

HONOR Magic V3 Roadshow

Before its official launch, HONOR is inviting the public to experience the Magic V3 at a roadshow in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur from September 3rd to 8th. Visitors can explore the device’s features, including the AI Eraser, Magic Portal, and other innovative capabilities. Additionally, participants can try out the AI Eraser by taking photos with the Magic V3 and removing unwanted background objects.

Business, News

Google’s US$2 Billion Investment: A Catalyst for Malaysia’s Digital Transformation

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Google’s recent announcement of a US$2 billion investment in Malaysia signifies a major milestone in the country’s digital transformation journey. This strategic investment not only positions Malaysia as a regional hub for cloud computing but also empowers its industries and workforce to embrace the transformative power of artificial intelligence (AI).

A Google Cloud Data Centre in Kuala Lumpur

The centrepiece of Google’s investment is the construction of its first data centre and Google Cloud region in Malaysia. Strategically located in Sime Darby Property’s Elmina Business Park in the Greater Kuala Lumpur region, this data centre will serve as the backbone for Google’s popular digital services like Search, Maps, and Workspace. These services are the lifeblood of countless individuals and organizations worldwide, including those in Malaysia.

Image 1 Artist impression of Google first data center and Google Cloud region in Malaysia
(Source: Google) Artist impression of Google’s first data centre and Google Cloud region in Malaysia

The impact of Google’s investment extends far beyond powering existing services. The new cloud region will provide high-performance and low-latency cloud services to businesses of all sizes, from established enterprises to budding startups. This will be particularly beneficial for public sector organizations seeking to leverage the efficiency and scalability of cloud computing.

For businesses concerned about data security and residency, Google Cloud offers robust features that meet the highest compliance standards. This empowers organizations to retain complete control over their data storage, ensuring adherence to specific data residency requirements. Furthermore, Google’s existing Dedicated Cloud Interconnect locations in Cyberjaya and Kuala Lumpur will provide even greater connectivity and security by enabling direct connections between an organization’s on-premises network and Google Cloud’s global network.

With the addition of the Malaysian cloud region, Google joins the ranks of leading cloud providers with a presence in 40 regions and 121 zones worldwide. This strategic placement in Southeast Asia strengthens Google’s position to cater to the growing demand for cloud services in the region. Malaysia’s central location makes it an ideal hub for businesses across Southeast Asia to leverage the power of Google Cloud.

Image 3 Actual Site for Google first data center and Google Cloud region in Elmina Business Park Malaysia
(Source: Google) Actual Site for Google’s first data center and Google Cloud region in Elmina Business Park Malaysia

Investments in Training and Upskilling

Recognizing the transformative potential of AI, Google is actively investing in programs to equip Malaysia’s workforce with the necessary skills. Two key initiatives are the Gemini Academy and the Experience AI program.

Gemini Academy: Empowering Educators with AI Tools

The Gemini Academy equips educators with the knowledge and tools to safely and effectively utilize generative AI tools like Gemini. This empowers teachers to boost productivity and explore innovative ways to enhance student learning experiences. Since its pilot phase in November 2023, the program has benefited over 600 educators in Malaysia. In collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Google aims to expand the program’s reach to 15,000 educators by the end of 2024.

Experience AI: Igniting Young Minds

Launched by Google DeepMind, the Raspberry Pi Foundation, and the Penang Science Cluster, the Experience AI program focuses on empowering educators with the skills and knowledge to deliver engaging AI lessons to students aged 11 to 14. Through interactive materials and tutorials, this program equips educators to confidently introduce students to the world of AI. The initial goal is to train 1,000 educators, ultimately reaching 10,000 students across Malaysia.

Jobs, Growth, and a Thriving Tech Ecosystem

Google’s investment is projected to create significant economic benefits for Malaysia. An evaluation by AlphaBeta (part of Access Partnership) commissioned by Google estimates the investment to contribute over US$3.2 billion to Malaysia’s GDP by 2030. This growth is further amplified by the creation of an estimated 26,500 jobs across various sectors. By fostering a vibrant technology ecosystem, Google’s investment aligns perfectly with Malaysia’s aspirations as outlined in the MADANI Economy Framework and the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030).

Image 2 Actual Site for Google first data center and Google Cloud region in Elmina Business Park Malaysia
(Source: Google) Actual Site for Google’s first data center and Google Cloud region in Elmina Business Park Malaysia

Google’s US$2 billion investment represents a significant commitment to Malaysia’s digital transformation journey. The construction of a data centre and cloud region, coupled with initiatives to promote AI literacy, positions Malaysia as a leader in the region’s digital future. This investment not only empowers businesses and individuals but also paves the way for a more innovative and technologically advanced Malaysia.

Business

Opera Browser Gets AI Infusion with Google Cloud & Gemini

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Opera has announced that it will be collaborating with Google Cloud to integrate Google’s Gemini AI models into its Aria browser AI. This partnership leverages the power of Google’s large language models (LLMs) to enhance Opera’s existing AI features. This integration promises to deliver a range of benefits to Opera users, including improved access to information, enhanced performance, and a more intuitive browsing experience.

Opera Browser Gemini AI Integration

The integration of Google’s Gemini AI models into Aria will manifest in several ways for Opera users. One key benefit is the ability to access and process information more efficiently. By leveraging the power of AI, Opera can provide users with more relevant search results and content suggestions. Additionally, the Gemini AI models can enhance browser performance, leading to faster loading times and a smoother overall browsing experience.

The partnership will also extend beyond core functionalities. Opera also plans to utilize Google’s AI models for image generation and text-to-voice capabilities. These features offer exciting possibilities for content creation and information consumption within the browser itself.

The integration of Google’s Gemini AI models into Opera’s Aria browser AI marks a significant step forward for the company. This collaboration has the potential to redefine the browsing experience for users, offering a more intelligent, efficient, and user-friendly way to navigate the web.

Business, News

[Google Cloud Next] Google’s Duet AI Here to Help Boost Productivity in Google Workspace

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Google’s Generative AI, Duet is here to lend a hand when you use apps in Google Workspace. Duet has just entered general availability and is poised to transform how you work with Google Docs, Slides, Sheets, and Gmail.

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Duet AI’s integration into Google Workspace is such that it’s your digital collaborator. It doesn’t replace you. As the name suggests, it works together with you; simplifying tasks and streamlining your workflow. Its capabilities are nothing short of remarkable, allowing you to harness the power of AI to improve your productivity and efficiency. Here’s a closer look at what Duet AI brings to the table:

1. Summarize with Ease: Imagine being able to instantly generate summaries on topics you’ve saved, like your business’s quarterly performance. Duet AI can do just that. It scours through your Gmail, Docs, Slides, and Sheets to craft comprehensive summaries, saving you precious time.

2. Fact-Checking Made Simple: Duet AI is committed to transparency. When it compiles information, it provides links to the sources, empowering you to fact-check and verify data accuracy. It’s a handy feature that ensures the reliability of your work.

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3. Presentation Perfection: Need to create a compelling presentation? Duet AI has you covered. It can generate presentations complete with relevant text, charts, and images sourced from your Drive. This feature streamlines the presentation creation process, making your work more visually engaging.

4. Gmail Assistance: In Gmail, Duet AI builds on the Smart Reply feature. With a click, you can access various options to help you compose emails effortlessly. You can instruct Duet AI to draft messages of specific types, refine tones, make drafts more elaborate or concise, or even opt for some creative fun with the “I’m feeling lucky” option.

5. Smarter Document Creation: Google Docs users will appreciate the AI’s prowess in generating documents. You can instruct Duet AI to craft drafts with different tones, create summaries for sections or entire documents, employ bullet points, or even use custom instructions to fine-tune generated content.

6. User-Friendly Interface: The “help me write” feature in Docs offers access to Smart Canvas features, enhancing your document creation experience.

Google is continuing to commit to transparency and responsible AI usage with Duet AI. The company reassures users that Duet will respect the privacy of their data, ensuring that their inputs and code remain theirs. Any data in private clouds, Google Drive and Google Workspace remain private and aren’t used for training shared models or product development.

While Duet AI is currently available for Google Workspace Enterprise users, Google has plans to roll it out to small- and medium-sized businesses and consumers in the near future. The pricing details for these expanded offerings are yet to be revealed.

Business, News

Google Cloud Planning Expansion in Asia Pacific Bringing New Regions in Malaysia, Thailand & New Zealand

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Google Cloud is stepping up its services for Malaysia with plans to roll out a new region in the country. The new region joins Thailand and New Zealand as Google Cloud continues its expansion throughout the Asia Pacific Region. With the addition of the three new regions, Google Cloud expands its total regions to 14 within the Asia Pacific region and 37 globally.

Google Cloud Malaysia Thailand Region
Source: Twitter (@RumaBala)

The rollout of the Malaysia region will bolster the government’s plans to accelerate the country’s digital economy to contribute 25.5% of the national GDP by 2025. According to reserach by AlphaBeta that was commissioned by Google, the country is poised to reap the benefits of an MYR257.2 billion (USD 61.3 billion) annual economic value by 2030 if digital transformation is properly leveraged.

The rollout of these regions will bring world class connectivity and compute to the quickly expanding number of ccompanies depending on the cloud. In addition to access to high performance compute and access to Google’s Tensor capabilities, better latency will help accelerate workflows. Google’s new Cloud Region will also be complemented by the existing Dedicated Cloud Interconnect locations. In Malaysia, these are located in Cyberjaya and Kuala Lumpur. Organisation on Google Cloud will be able to leverage interconnectivity and access on-premises and through direct connections via Google Cloud.

Google Cloud Regions highlight Malaysia
Source: Gooogle Cloud

Being one of the foremost in the industry, data security, data soverignty and privacy is paramount when it comes to rolling out new regions for Google Cloud. When asked about data privacy and sovereignty when it comes to rolling out a new Region in Malaysia, Google Cloud Managing Director for Southeast Asia, Ruma Balasubramaniam, had this to say, “We will work with local customers to ensure that each local cloud region, including the one that’s coming soon to Malaysia, fits their specific needs. Our aim is to provide solutions that help customers meet their local requirements for data security, privacy, and sovereignty – without compromising on considerations like functionality, cost, and the developer experience. The Malaysia cloud region will ultimately give local organizations more options regarding where they would like to run their workloads and store their data, whether this is in-country in the Malaysia cloud region or in another cloud region that is part of our global network. Ultimately, it is solely up to the Google Cloud customer to choose where they would like to run their workloads and store their data.“

In addition, she emphasized Google’s commitments to data security and privacy even internally. Google Cloud has ensured that all data on their service is securely encrypted and that no Google employee will be able to acceess it. They also have strict guidelines and tools for customers to ensure data security including preventing Google decryption access. This includes government requested access which require valid legal processes. Government requests for data is also reported in their transparency report.

Google Cloud hasn’t announced any timelines just yet when it comes to the rollout and availability. The new regions will join Google Cloud’s 11 existing regions across Asia Pacific and Japan including ones in Jakarta and Singapore. In total, Google Cloud currently has 34 regions and 103 zones worldwide. The company has been working public sector agencies, large corporations and even small and medium entrerprises across the world. In Malaysia alone, Google Cloud is working with Capital A (Airasia Aviation and airasia Super App), Hong Leong Bank, JB Cocoa, KPJ Healthcare, Malaysia Airlines, Mass Rapid Transit Corporation, Maxis and Media Prima.