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Module 1: Introduction to AI

Discover how AI works and explore foundational AI concepts, such as machine learning (ML). Learn about the rise of generative AI and how to perform tasks with it. By the end of this module, you’ll have an understanding of the capabilities and limitations of AI tools and how to integrate generative AI in the workplace.

Learning Objectives

  • Define the field of AI.
  • Explain how AI functions at a basic level, including how AI technology is trained to learn from data.
  • Describe the capabilities and limitations of AI tools.
  • Recognize the importance of human oversight when using AI.
Table Of Contents
  1. Welcome to the exciting world of AI
  2. Discover how AI works
  3. AI for professionals
  4. Review: Introduction to AI

Welcome to the exciting world of AI

Video: Introduction to Google AI Essentials

Key Points

  • AI’s Transformative Power: AI has the potential to revolutionize how we work, streamlining routine tasks and freeing up time for higher-level work.
  • Boost Your Career with AI: Understanding and using AI tools effectively can make you more productive, valuable, and future-ready.
  • Google AI Essentials Course: This self-paced, beginner-friendly course from Google experts will help you:
    • Understand what AI is and how it works.
    • Use AI tools for practical work benefits.
    • Learn about responsible and ethical AI use.
    • Earn a skill badge to showcase your AI knowledge.

Call to Action: The course encourages you to explore how AI can enhance your work and prepare you for the evolving workplace.

  • Join me as we uncover the ways AI can enhance your career and life. There’s a big shift happening
    in the modern workplace, and AI is at the forefront of
    this exciting transformation. Just as the internet
    forever changed the way we approach everyday
    tasks, AI has the potential to transform the way we work and live. AI stands for artificial intelligence. It’s a practical solution for making routine tasks
    less time-consuming. Learning to use AI effectively in your job can help you to accomplish
    your goals and set you up for success in the
    evolving work landscape. For example, consider a
    typical day at your work. If it’s anything like mine, you have a lot of tasks to complete. Some days your to-do list
    might seem never ending, but what if AI could help? For instance, instead of spending hours reviewing spreadsheets,
    AI can help you analyze the information in seconds. It can also draft a detailed sales report, highlighting key insights
    to share with your team. AI can schedule meetings for you, creating engaging presentations, enhance your brainstorming sessions and take on a variety of other tasks that will shorten your to-do list. Whether you’re curious to
    learn the basics of AI, interested in making routine tasks easier, or focused on enhancing your skillset we’ve designed Google
    AI Essentials to help. Hi, my name is Maya and I’m
    the Vice President of Strategy and Operations at Google Research. In my role, I lead a team
    that helps Google achieve its mission by accelerating research and fostering an exceptional
    research environment. I’m thrilled to be your guide
    on this journey to explore this technology that’s reshaping
    the business world, AI. Throughout the course,
    you’ll have the opportunity to learn from a diverse
    group of AI experts at Google whose role span from program management to directors of AI products and services. They’ll each share their insights into AI, and how it can elevate your
    work and advance your career. Google AI Essentials is
    designed to fit your schedule. You can complete it at
    your own pace all online and no previous AI
    experience is necessary. This course will include
    videos from Google employees who work in AI, readings to help deepen your understanding of concepts
    and interactive activities that give you practical
    experience working with AI. At the end of the course,
    you’ll have the opportunity to earn a skill badge that can
    be displayed on your resume, social media profiles,
    and email signature. If you’re new to AI, you may
    have many unanswered questions. You might wonder, “How
    do I engage with AI tools to boost my productivity?” “How do I apply AI responsibly in my job?” Or, “How should I prepare for the future of AI in the workplace?” In Google AI Essentials, we’ll address each of those questions and more. I hope you’re excited to join me as we uncover the ways AI can enhance your career and life, let’s get started.

Video: AI and the future of work

Key Points

  • AI is Becoming Essential: AI is rapidly becoming a standard tool for modern businesses.
  • Understanding AI is Key: Just like knowing driving rules makes you a better driver, understanding AI helps you use it effectively and avoid pitfalls.
  • What is AI? In this context, AI refers to computer programs that mimic human cognitive tasks, aiding with decision-making and problem-solving.
  • AI’s Potential: AI can improve work quality and efficiency, but it’s not a magical fix-all. Responsible use requires understanding its strengths and limitations.

Call to Action: The Google AI Essentials course promises to dive deeper into how AI works and how it can benefit your work.

  • In today’s fast-paced world, AI is quickly becoming a standard tool in every company’s toolkit. Navigating the emergence
    of AI in the workplace is similar to driving down a busy street. Just as knowing the rules of
    the road can make you a better and more effective driver, understanding the basics
    of AI can help you to reach your destination safely and to avoid potential roadblocks. To begin this AI journey,
    let’s start by examining what the term artificial
    intelligence really means. In this context, intelligence
    refers to the human ability to perform cognitive tasks. A cognitive task is any mental
    activity such as thinking, understanding, learning, and remembering. As humans, we have cognitive
    abilities that allow us to make decisions and solve problems. However, there are also
    limits to how much information we can process at a time. AI is capable of extending
    our cognitive abilities, helping us to make better decisions and solve problems faster. With that understanding, the
    term artificial intelligence refers to computer programs that can complete cognitive tasks typically associated
    with human intelligence. Simply put, AI programs
    can assist us with tasks by using math to learn from data. As you’ll soon discover,
    AI has the potential to greatly improve the
    quality of our work lives and streamline business operations. However, AI isn’t a magic solution to every business problem. As with any advanced tool, the key is to use AI to its strengths, and doing so requires careful thought and consideration of the
    technology’s capabilities. Are you curious to discover how AI works? Wanna find out how AI
    can enhance your work? Then get ready to explore
    these questions with me in Google AI Essentials.

Video: Learn from AI success stories

AI’s Transformative Power Across Industries

  • HR and Management: Companies like UKG are using AI to enhance decision-making in the following ways:
    • Easier and faster access to insights for employees
    • Advanced analytics for managers to inform business choices
  • Agriculture: Companies like Jiva are using AI to help farmers address challenges and improve their practices:
    • AI-powered crop disease diagnosis and treatment suggestions.
    • Insights for better quality crops and increased yields.
  • Across every industry, AI is introducing new approaches to work. Companies and organizations of every type are developing innovative solutions to a variety of workplace
    tasks and challenges, all with the help of AI. Let’s explore some examples of how AI is reshaping the way people
    work all across the globe. Consider UKG, a provider of HR and workforce management solutions. By integrating AI into its product suite, UKG is improving how its employees analyze information and insights. This can make it easier and faster for employees to receive answers to their work-related questions. EKG’s AI integration also enables managers to gain advanced analytics
    from user interactions, helping them make more
    informed business decisions. Now let’s consider one
    of the oldest industries in the world, farming. AI is also being used to address many challenges
    in this industry. For example, a common challenge that rural farmers face each
    year is economic uncertainty due to a variety of factors. One is frequent changes with
    crop and livestock yields. Other factors include
    unpredictable weather conditions and limited access to
    advanced farming techniques. Uncertainties like these
    can make it difficult for farmers to make
    effective business decisions. Jiva is an agricultural company focused on helping rural farmers solve these types of challenges. As part of their mission, Jiva provides farming
    communities with AI solutions that can assist them in
    achieving sustainable and reliable farming practices. Jiva uses AI tools that can diagnose crop
    diseases and suggest remedies. Farmers can also receive
    relevant AI-powered advice that helps them produce
    better quality crops and increased yields. With the help of AI,
    Jiva helps rural farmers stay informed and access more insights that can improve their business. Overall, AI can be a powerful tool for all kinds of business activities. And no matter the industry,
    AI has a potential to transform how companies
    and organizations develop innovative,
    forward-thinking solutions. As you continue your journey
    into the world of AI, consider this, in what ways can AI positively impact your industry, and how can you be part of that change?

Video: Maya: The exciting world of AI

Key Points by Maya (VP, Google Research)

  • Google Research Focus: Identifies societal problems and seeks innovative solutions, often leveraging AI.
  • Example: Contrails Project: Using AI to research ways to reduce the negative climate impact of aviation.
  • AI’s Widespread Integration: Most modern technologies have an AI component or are closely related to the field.
  • AI’s Positive Potential: Maya is hopeful about AI’s ability to improve lives and society. We’re only at the beginning of what’s possible.
  • Personal Purpose: Maya sees AI as a powerful tool for alleviating suffering and advancing humanity.
  • Invitation: Emphasizes that AI is approachable and welcomes everyone to participate in its development and use.

  • I am Maya. I’m Vice President of
    Strategy and Operations at Google Research. Day to day, Google Research
    is trying to figure out, what are the things
    that can change society and our business today,
    tomorrow, and in the future? We start by saying, you know, what’s impossible in people’s minds? What are problems that need to be solved? And how can we apply the
    expertise that we have to those problems to provide a solution that benefits all of us as
    people and also our business? One piece of technology at Google Research we’re very proud of at this moment, because there’s so many
    that we’ve had in the past that utilize AI, is around Contrails, which is, when you look up at the sky and you see the white
    trail from behind a jet, and utilizing AI to try to understand how can we alleviate that, because it has a very
    negative impact on climate. Most technologies nowadays
    have either an AI component or an adjacency to AI. I’m very hopeful that AI tools
    will have a tremendous impact in a positive way on us as people. I think that we’re just at
    the beginning of that journey. AI is one tool that I consider a powerful one in achieving my life’s purpose, which is to alleviate suffering and to help us progress as
    people to a better place, to have a better society,
    to have a better world. It’s not something that’s not approachable and something that people
    need to be intimidated by. We are all welcome on this journey.

Discover how AI works

Video: Explore how AI uses machine learning

AI: More Than a Trend

  • AI might seem like a recent buzzword, but it’s been used for years in familiar features like streaming recommendations.
  • AI tools, powered by machine learning (ML), are used in various industries to improve operations and products.
  • ML is a subset of AI where programs learn to make decisions by analyzing data.

How AI Tools Work

  • ML models require training sets (large collections of data) to learn how to identify patterns and respond.
  • An example is a food distributor using AI to sort ripe apples. The ML model is trained on many images of ripe and unripe apples to perform the task.
  • It’s important to be aware of potential bias in training data, which can lead to inaccurate results from the AI tool.

Conclusion

  • ML is crucial for advancing AI. It has significant potential, but it’s important to use it consciously and address potential biases within training data.

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  • All the buzz surrounding
    AI can make it seem like the hottest new tech trend, but the truth is AI has
    been around for a while. For example, have you ever wondered how streaming platforms
    recommend videos you might like? This feature is brought to you by AI. For years, streaming
    platforms have used AI tools to offer services, like
    recommendation systems that enhance the user experience. An AI tool refers to AI powered software that can automate or assist
    users with a variety of tasks. Examples of AI tools are everywhere, from GPS systems that suggest quick routes to translation systems that
    interpret conversations in real time. Companies of all shapes
    and sizes use AI tools to streamline operations
    and improve the quality of their products and services. While these AI tools can
    seem naturally smart, it’s important to recognize
    that they’re not self-taught. Instead, they’re powered by what’s known as machine learning. Machine learning, or ML, is a subset of AI focused on developing computer programs that can analyze data to make
    decisions or predictions. ML is a specialized layer
    under the broader category of AI technology. It’s often used by AI tools to make sense of data quickly and efficiently. AI designers build ML
    programs using a training set, which is a collection of
    data used to teach AI. Basically, training
    sets provide ML programs with examples of what to expect and how to respond appropriately. For example, consider a food distributor that uses an AI tool to
    sort and pack ripe apples in their factory. For this tool to work, an
    AI designer must first train an ML program to identify ripe apples. They would do this by
    providing their ML program with a training set that
    includes thousands of images of ripe and unripe apples. As the ML program processes these images, it eventually learns to
    identify the features of ripe apples. Having learned to do this with ML, the AI tool can then identify ripe apples that weren’t in its training set, and help factory employees
    work more efficiently. As I mentioned earlier,
    many AI tools use ML to learn and improve their performance. However, for ML programs
    to perform effectively, the quality and relevance of
    their training data matter. A fundamental issue to be aware of is the potential for bias
    within training data. This could unintentionally
    cause an AI tool to produce inaccurate
    or unintended outputs. For example, the AI tool that was used to sort ripe apples might’ve
    learned from training data that only contain images of
    specific types of red apples. This would unintentionally
    make the AI less accurate at identifying ripe
    apples of varying sizes, shapes, or colors. The food producer might end
    up sorting apples incorrectly, causing them to lose money and
    waste perfectly good apples. When used appropriately,
    ML plays a key role in advancing AI into the future. It’s truly an incredible
    and sophisticated technique with endless applications.

Video: Foundations of generative AI

  • Generative AI is changing how we work. This type of artificial intelligence can create new content (text, images, audio, etc.) and understands natural language, the way we normally communicate.
  • How it Works: You provide input (text, speech, sometimes images/video), the AI tool processes this input, and then generates an output based on your instructions.
  • A Powerful Tool: Generative AI can save you time and effort. Examples include:
    • Creating marketing materials when you don’t have a design team.
    • Drafting email replies quickly.
    • Brainstorming ideas and getting help with decision-making.
  • Wide Applications: Generative AI tools exist to benefit a huge range of fields, including healthcare, education, and business.
  • Conversational AI Tools: These are a specific type of generative AI focused on text-based conversations to answer questions, brainstorm, and boost productivity.
  • Google’s Gemini: This conversational AI can offer creative ideas, build upon your concepts, and provide explanations to help you learn.
  • AI’s Limits: While generative AI offers many possibilities, it’s important to understand the limitations of AI as a whole before diving fully into the technology.
  • Advancements in AI technology
    are reshaping how we work. Let’s explore one of the key developments at the center of this
    transformation, generative AI. As the name suggests, generative AI is AI that can generate new content such as text, images, or other media. A unique quality of generative AI tools is that you can use them
    with natural language. Natural language refers
    to the way people talk or write when communicating
    with each other. Here’s a simplified overview of how a generative AI tool
    works with natural language. First, you provide input. Input refers to any information or data that’s sent to a
    computer for processing. Many generative AI tools,
    accept text and speeches input, and some also accept
    images or video files. Next, the data is
    processed by the AI tool. Then an output is generated
    in the form of text, images, audio, or video. Generative AI and the ability to interact with computers using natural
    language has introduced a world of possibilities for what
    people can create with AI. For example, you might be
    marketing a new business. You need fresh, engaging content
    like a promotional poster to advertise a new product, but you don’t have a creative team to bring your ideas to life. No need to stress. With a few instructions, generative AI can help
    you create a poster. If the generated content
    doesn’t meet your expectations, you can provide additional instructions until it produces something
    that meets your needs. This is just one example of how generative AI can
    complement your skills, but there are many other ways it can benefit you and your work. For example, generative AI
    can boost your productivity by helping you with tasks like
    drafting replies to emails. It can help you avoid mistakes, and it can improve your
    decision-making process by answering questions and
    brainstorming ideas with you. Whether you work in healthcare,
    education, finance, retail, or any other field,
    there are a wide variety of generative AI tools that
    can cater to your needs. One example is a conversational AI tool. A conversational AI tool
    is a generative AI tool that processes text requests
    and generates text responses. You can use it to brainstorm
    ideas, answer questions, and boost your productivity. Throughout Google AI Essentials, you’ll gain practical experience using a conversational AI
    tool by Google called Gemini. Gemini can be used to get some creative inspiration
    when you’re feeling stuck, build on your ideas, and provide detailed explanations that help you explore topics easily. For example, let’s ask
    Gemini to brainstorm a list of team-bonding activities
    for our summer work retreat. The AI tool responds with
    a wide range of ideas from a fun beach party to
    a relaxed pottery class. Gemini also share some additional tips to consider when planning
    a successful work retreat. Generative AI has paved the
    way to exciting new frontiers, but before we can tap
    into what this technology has to offer, it’s essential
    to investigate the capabilities and limitations of AI as a whole. Continue to the next part of
    this lesson to get started.

Reading: A guide to AI and ML

Reading

Video: Understand the capabilities and limitations of AI

AI as a Powerful Tool (with Limitations)

  • You don’t need to be a tech expert to use AI to improve your work.
  • AI tools offer benefits:
    • Content generation (like marketing videos).
    • Quick analysis of information (summarizing emails).
    • Detailed answers to questions.
    • Simplifying your day-to-day tasks.
  • However, AI has limitations that require human oversight:
    • AI doesn’t learn independently, needing constant updates.
    • Training data can contain biases, leading to unfair results.
    • AI can produce inaccurate outputs called “hallucinations”.

Example of AI’s Limitations: A sales manager using AI to analyze data might be misled by inaccurate results that don’t consider all factors, leading to poor decisions.

Key Takeaways

  • Human oversight of AI outputs is essential to ensure accuracy and ethical use.
  • Successful AI in the workplace needs collaboration across different roles.
  • An inclusive approach, with humans in control, is the best way to make AI work for everyone.
  • Just as you don’t need to be
    a carpenter to use a hammer, you don’t need to be a computer expert to use AI effectively. That said, understanding
    the basics of what AI can do will help you make the
    most of the technology. Today’s AI tools can do a
    lot to enhance your work. They can generate content, like assisting a marketing team by making a promotional
    video for a new product. They can analyze information quickly, like highlighting the key
    points of a long email thread. They can answer questions in
    a detailed and nuanced way. And overall, they can
    simplify your day-to-day and allow you to focus on
    other aspects of your work. While AI can complete a variety of tasks, there are some tasks that
    require a human touch, such as handling sensitive issues. These limitations can be
    critical in certain contexts. For example, AI can’t learn independently. It needs people to continually
    update its training. Shortcomings in an AI tool’s training data can also potentially
    reflect or amplify biases, leading to skewed or unfair outcomes. Another major limitation is that AI output can
    sometimes contain inaccuracies, otherwise known as hallucinations. Hallucinations are AI
    outputs that are not true. These inaccuracies can
    range from minor errors, such as a sentence that
    doesn’t make sense, to significant distortions. For instance, consider a sales manager who’s using an AI tool to
    analyze quarterly sales data. The AI tool might identify declining sales of a particular product, and flag the item as something that should
    be removed from stores. However, what if there
    were a seasonal factor affecting sales that hadn’t been accounted
    for in the AI tool’s analysis? Hallucinations like this one
    can lead to misguided decisions if the user doesn’t carefully
    review the AI tool’s output. Considering AI’s limitations, human oversight over AI
    generated output is crucial to ensure that the information
    is accurate and ethical. Effective management
    of AI in the workplace requires teamwork from
    technical to non-technical roles to ensure that AI’s output
    and decision making processes are aligned with values
    that benefit people. Ultimately, an inclusive approach that maintains human
    oversight over these tools is the key to shaping a brighter future where AI works for everyone.

Video: Vint: Use AI for positive change

Vint Cerf: Internet Pioneer and AI Advocate

  • As Google’s “Chief Internet Evangelist”, Vint Cerf is dedicated to expanding internet access globally.
  • He sees AI as a transformative technology with a long history, and emphasizes its potential for positive impact.

AI in Crisis Response

  • Google’s SOS alerts are being used in wildfire detection and warning systems in nine countries.
  • AI is being trained to predict fire behavior, aiding in firefighting efforts and evacuations.
  • DeepMind, an Alphabet company, uses machine learning to fold proteins, which could lead to breakthroughs in treating genetic diseases.

AI Literacy

  • Cerf believes everyone should understand the basics of AI – its potential benefits and risks – even if they don’t know the technical details.

AI’s Future Impact

  • Cerf envisions AI revolutionizing many areas:
    • Enhanced research capabilities.
    • Personalized tutors for every student.
    • Powerful new creative tools for artists and filmmakers.
  • Like the internet, AI is expected to become a vast platform for innovation.
  • Hi, I’m Vint, vice president and chief internet evangelist at Google. Some people think of me as famous. I don’t. I think of me as lucky. I had the good fortune of
    being the one of the people who started the design
    of the internet in 1973. And since that time, my entire career has been strongly related to internet and its evolution. So people ask me, what is
    a chief internet evangelist and why does the internet
    need an evangelist at all? And the answer to that is that only about two thirds of
    the world’s population are actually online and able to access all the treasures and
    riches of the internet. And so, the chief internet evangelist is still running around the world, encouraging people to build more internet so everyone can have access. I’ve been around in the AI space for almost all of its existence because the notion of
    artificial intelligence goes all the way back to the 1960s. So, let’s talk a little bit
    about the way in which AI can be used in crisis situations like wildfires and things like that. In nine different countries, Google’s services are
    being used, the SOS alerts, to detect and to alert
    geographically about wildfires. So, we are starting to see raw material going into the artificial
    intelligence algorithms to help us anticipate what
    a fire is going to do. And that will help the
    forest fire response and will certainly help
    get people out of buildings if they are, in fact, at risk. Another example comes from one
    of our sister organizations, DeepMind, which trained
    a machine learning system to learn how to fold proteins that are generated by the
    interpretation of DNA. And the reason that’s so important is that those molecules may turn out to be the key to solving various kinds
    of genetic diseases. I mean, I get really excited
    about stuff like that. AI literacy is really about
    not the absolute details, exactly how does this work? Not everyone needs to know how a car is constructed to use it. We want people to have a conscious sense of both the power and peril
    of artificial intelligence. I think in the long run, as we learn how to use these
    techniques better and better and more reliably, that it
    will have a dramatic impact on almost all walks of life. It will enhance our
    ability to do research. Every student might have
    a personal tutor, in fact. Creative people, who are
    trying to create text and film, video and imagery,
    will have a palette and a tool far more capable than a paintbrush in order to invent and create. And so, in the same way
    that the worldwide web has turned out to be such a huge platform for creativity and innovation, I think the AI world will
    induce a similar kind of effect.

Practice Assignment: Activity: Use AI to create a work email

Reading

Reading: Activity Exemplar: Use AI to create a work email

Reading

PDF

AI for professionals

Video: Use AI as a collaborative tool

Here’s a summary of how AI can enhance day-to-day work processes:

AI Augmentation: AI can improve work products by making tasks easier and higher in quality, augmenting human skills and capabilities. Examples include:

  • Simplifying routine tasks, such as responding to emails
  • Enhancing complex tasks, such as brainstorming new ideas

AI Automation: AI can accomplish tasks without human intervention, freeing up time for more important tasks. Examples include:

  • Automatically sorting and responding to low-priority emails
  • Drafting replies to common customer inquiries

Key Takeaways:

  • A people-first approach to AI is essential, where AI enhances human skills and capabilities.
  • Striking a balance between augmentation and automation requires time, practice, and thoughtful consideration.
  • Successful integration of AI requires collaboration and diverse perspectives from people across different roles and departments.
  • It’s critical to learn and adapt as AI is introduced into the workplace to achieve the best results.

By embracing AI in a people-first approach, individuals and businesses can enhance their work processes, improve efficiency, and achieve better outcomes.

  • Ever wondered how to
    turn your busy workday into an orderly operation? Let’s consider the incredible
    ways AI can enhance your day-to-day processes. When we use AI at work,
    embracing a people-first strategy is essential. AI enhances our unique
    human skills and simplifies many of the tasks that we perform. Essentially, AI augments
    our own capabilities. In this context, AI augmentation
    refers to the process of using AI to improve a work product, whether by making it easier
    to do or higher in quality. For example, think of
    your own job or a job you might have held in the past. Like mine, your job probably consists of a variety of tasks and duties. Some of the tasks might be
    simple, like manually responding to routine questions over email. Other tasks might be more complex, like brainstorming new
    ideas with coworkers. AI can help you with many of these things by augmenting the work you
    do, helping you complete the task quicker and more efficiently. Another way AI can help
    you to do your work is through automation. AI automation refers to
    the process of using AI to accomplish tasks without
    any action on the user’s part. For example, maybe a customer
    support representative receives hundreds of emails every day from customers asking for help. They might spend a lot of
    time reading each email and typing responses one at a time. Using an AI tool, they
    could automatically sort incoming emails by priority. For emails with low priority, they could use AI to draft replies. With some guidance from
    other customer support agents or training data containing past replies, the AI could learn to quickly generate quality email responses. By automating this task, the
    representative could then focus on high-priority messages,
    like ones reporting complex issues that
    require personal attention. Striking the right balance
    between augmentation and automation takes time, practice, and thoughtful consideration. Successful businesses
    can set themselves apart by applying a people-first approach to AI and their products, services, and jobs. Think of AI as a collaborative workspace that thrives on diverse perspectives. Consider a public relations
    professional who wants to use AI to assist in the creation
    of press releases. To make sure they get an optimal result, they need to provide human
    oversight of the AI tool. But it shouldn’t stop there. It’s essential that they also
    collaborate with other members of their team, such as managers
    who can coordinate resources for the project, members of
    the editorial team to ensure that the releases are
    representative of the brand’s voice, and guidance from the
    legal department to ensure appropriate rules and
    regulations are followed. Everyone has to cooperate
    to integrate AI successfully and to make sure the
    tools’ generated output meets expectations. Integrating AI at work must
    be an inclusive process. It requires diverse
    perspectives from people across different roles and departments to achieve the best results. It’s critical to learn and adapt as AI is introduced into the workplace. By taking the time to understand AI and how it can provide
    benefits in your work, you can effectively
    contribute to the discussion.

Video: Aleck: Make daily tasks easier with AI

Here’s a summary of the video:

Introduction

  • Aleck, an engineering program manager at Google, introduces himself and his role in the central knowledge management team
  • His team ensures that knowledge is up-to-date and current within Google

Non-Traditional Background

  • Aleck has a non-traditional background, having studied architecture and worked in the field for 5 years
  • His architecture background has helped him establish frameworks and apply them to his current role as a program manager

Using AI

  • Aleck uses AI to analyze data and ensure project success
  • He initially used AI to learn about AI itself, asking the AI for recommended reading material
  • He advises others to start small when using AI tools and work their way up, using AI to automate tasks that are hard, stressful, or time-consuming

AI Use Cases

  • Aleck uses AI to:
    • Start documents with templates and specific sections
    • Take notes and summarize meetings
    • Organize emails and provide key points
    • Plan for the week
    • Create immediate action items and summarize meetings
  • AI saves him around 1-1.5 hours of time per meeting

Benefits of AI

  • Aleck believes that AI makes work more efficient, fulfilling, and amazing
  • He encourages others to explore AI tools to make their work easier and more efficient
  • Hi, my name is Aleck and I’m an engineering
    program manager here at Google and I’m on the central
    knowledge management team. The aim of this department is to ensure that knowledge is not stale, that Googlers in particular
    are not reading documents or working with tools
    that are out of date, but just to ensure that, you know, the
    information they’re exposed to is current, up to date, and truly reflects on
    what’s going on internally. I definitely have a very
    non-traditional path. Studied architecture in college. I was working in architecture
    field for about five years. I think architecture helped me get better at establishing frameworks,
    applying frameworks, and it’s something that I can use now with my job as a program manager at Google to just making sure that things
    are set up appropriately. And AI helps with that a lot, too, to help me analyze different things to ensure that projects can be successful. First thing I used it for was to better understand AI. (chuckles) I used AI to learn about AI (chuckles) and asked the AI for recommended
    material to read as well. That was very useful. The advice I would have for people that want to use AI
    tools for the first time is don’t be afraid to use
    it for something small and then, you know, work your way up. Try to find a task that
    might be hard for you or maybe somewhat stressful or you’re not really looking forward to it and see how you can leverage it. One example of how I use AI tools to make my life more easier,
    especially with work, is starting off a document. That’s like the hardest thing for me. Just getting the template started, having specific sections
    and headings in there, leveraging AI is very useful and helpful and kind of helps me create a
    more concise document as well. I use AI for ways to make
    my work more efficient, whether it’s me taking notes, email summarization, organizing emails, providing key points on
    documents, planning for the week. During every meeting, I create
    transcripts for meetings, and then I then use AI to help me create immediate action items, summarize the meeting, and provide me key
    takeaways from the meeting. Saves me an hour to an
    hour and a half of my time. And when things are
    efficient and they move well, it makes work easier, it makes it more fulfilling, and that’s something that is amazing and something that is very, very powerful.

Review: Introduction to AI

Video: Wrap-up

Here is a summary of the video:

Summary of AI Learning Journey

  • The goal of AI adoption should be to prioritize people and add value to work, not just to adopt the latest technology
  • This section of the learning journey covered the fundamentals of AI and machine learning, including their capabilities and limitations
  • AI can enhance work and increase efficiency, and it’s essential to thoughtfully incorporate it into workflows

Future of AI

  • The AI field is rapidly evolving, with new advancements and improvements being made daily
  • To continue learning, it’s recommended to explore how to transform work with AI as part of Google AI Essentials
  • AI isn’t just about
    adopting the latest tech. The goal should be to
    thoughtfully incorporate AI in a way that puts people first
    and adds value to your work. In this section, we
    discovered how AI works, including the fundamentals
    of AI and machine learning. We investigated the
    capabilities and limits of AI. We also examined how AI
    can enhance your work and help you become more efficient. The AI field is constantly changing. New advancements are made every day, and the technology is
    continuously improving. I hope this experience serves
    as an exciting introduction into new AI powered possibilities. To continue learning, I encourage you to explore how
    to transform the way you work with AI as a part of
    Google AI Essentials.

Graded Assignment: Module 1 challenge

A forest management organization wants to use AI to identify sick trees that require treatment. They provide the AI with a training set that contains images of sick trees. What role does the training set play in this scenario?
It teaches the AI tool to help identify sick trees that require treatment.
It predicts the lifespan of different trees.
It is used to predict which trees will get sick.
It serves as a database of trees in the forest.

Which of the following tasks can a marketing agency accomplish using generative AI? Select three answers.
Predict campaign results without relevant training data
Edit and refine written content
Develop first drafts for a promotional email newsletter
List ideas for social media posts

What are some of the limitations of AI? Select three answers.
AI can’t answer questions in a detailed and nuanced way.
AI can’t learn independently.
AI can reflect or amplify bias.
AI output can contain inaccuracies.

A marketing team uses an AI tool to draft content to post on various social media platforms. Then, the team reviews and edits the text before posting. What does this scenario describe?
Time management
AI automation
AI augmentation
Outsourcing

How can businesses effectively integrate AI into their workflows? Select two answers.
Only use the latest AI tools.
Rely entirely on computer engineers to keep AI solutions updated.
Promote cross-team collaboration to ensure the AI aligns with values that benefit people.
Maintain human oversight over the AI’s output and decision-making processes.

A web designer is using generative AI to create a new website. Which of the following tasks can be accomplished using generative AI? Select three answers.
Generate images for the website
Create a variety of website layouts
Edit website content
Predict whether a user will click on a particular link

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