Google Cloud Platform News

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  How Ben's love for technology led him to Google
  • sorangutan  

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  Welcome to the latest edition of “My Path to Google,” where we talk to Googlers, interns, apprentices and alumni about how they got to Google, what their roles are like and even some tips on how to prepare for interviews.

  Today’s post is all about Ben Miles, a Technical Solutions Engineer for Google Cloud who’s based in our London office.

  What’s your current role at Google?

  I’m a Technical Solutions Engineer for Google Cloud. I work specifically on Apigee, Google Cloud’s API management platform. In my role, I help Google Cloud’s customers fix technical issues through a mix of troubleshooting, debugging, software development and system administration. I enjoy the entire process, from reporting an issue to finding a resolution. It always feels great to help our customers and learn something new along the way.

  When did you first get interested in technology?

  I always had a passion for technology when I was growing up — I would play endless amounts of video games and take apart my parents’ desktop computer for fun. Flash forward to today, I still spend a lot of time teaching myself new programming languages and researching areas like space exploration (watching a live SpaceX rocket launch is on my bucket list).

  But I didn’t study anything even remotely technical in school. In fact, I’ve never been very academic — I didn’t attend university or get a degree, and my grades in high school were never that strong. So I thought my chances of working in the tech industry were over before I had even started. That’s why Google’s apprenticeship program was a great stepping stone into tech for me. I was able to learn on the job and even get certified through formal training connected to the program.

  What made you decide to apply to Google?

  Like many Googlers, I never thought I would get a job here. I was terrified to apply, because I didn’t think I’d stand a chance. Once I realized I had nothing to lose, I ultimately took the leap and applied. You can’t achieve anything if you don’t try.

  I got accepted into Google’s digital marketing apprenticeship program when I was 18. I spent one year there before applying to another apprenticeship focused on IT engineering. In that IT role, I helped other Googlers solve technical problems, like fixing their laptops and debugging software issues. Taking on two apprenticeships back to back is rare — I’m actually the only Google apprentice who’s ever done it! — and I learned a lot from both experiences.

  

  Ben’s desk at the Google London office.

  How did the recruitment process go for you?
  I’ve been through many recruiting processes at Google, both as an internal and external applicant, and every experience has been rewarding. Applying to the Technical Solutions Engineer role was especially challenging, but I felt supported every step of the way. My recruiter talked me through each part of the process and what to expect, and the interviewers were all extremely kind.
  
  What resources did you use to prepare for your interview?
  Since I didn’t have specialized education or training, I prepared entirely using the internet and free resources. I watched YouTube videos to learn more about specific topics, and used forums like Reddit to research and ask questions. Reading books was another good way to absorb a lot of information at once. If you can’t find a specific book for free online, it’s probably available in your local library!

  

  Ben at “Noogler” (new Googler) orientation. He’s wearing a white sweatshirt and holding the “Welcome to Google" sign on the right.

  Any tips for aspiring Googlers?
  There is no one “type” of person Google hires. I have an unconventional background and still managed to reach my goal of working here. I still can’t believe that I’m writing this now. Thinking back to a few years ago when I was in high school, a job at Google seemed completely unrealistic. Now, I get to do what I love every day and work with some of the largest companies in the world on services that millions of people use. I am so grateful that Google saw potential in me, and I can't wait to see where the future takes me.

  
  
  https://blog.google/inside-google/life-at-google/how-bens-love-technology-led-him-google/
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  Manga Out of the Box: the story of a Japanese art form
  • sorangutan  

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  With its gripping storylines and vivid illustrations, manga is one of Japan’s most beloved art forms. From Doraemon the cat-shaped robot to Astro Boy the android, it has left us with some unforgettable characters. Once considered a ‘subculture’, manga has gone mainstream – and global.

  In Manga Out Of The Box – a new collaboration between the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, 12 cultural institutions across Japan, and Google Arts & Culture – we take a closer look at this dynamic art form. Through detailed stories, interactive exhibits and exclusive experiments and videos, you’ll be able to immerse yourself in the world of manga. Here are five things you can do as part of this virtual exhibit.

  1. Learn manga history

  The origins of manga, as we know it today, are disputed. In Manga Out of the Box, you’ll be able to dig into this history. Are the 12th-century Chōjū Giga scrolls the first examples of manga? Or is this a case of searching too hard for the present in the distant past? Did manga’s true history begin in the 19th century – with the meeting of Western caricature and Japanese drawing? Find out in these beautifully illustrated stories.

  

  A part of "Chōjū Giga" first screen, dating from the 12th century

  2. Create your own manga with the help of machine learning

  With Giga Manga, you’ll be able to create your own manga-style ink drawings with the help of machine learning. In this unique experiment, all you need to do is sketch a few simple lines and add some splashes of color – then let machine learning fill in the rest. You can also draw freeform to personalize your creation further. And when you’re done, the tool will help you discover manga similar to the one you’ve drawn.

  

  3. Discover influential figures

  It’s impossible to imagine Japanese manga without Osamu Tezuka. In works likeAstro Boy and Black Jack, Tezuka stakes a claim as ‘the grandfather’ of modern manga. With his multilayered narratives, sci-fi themes and dark sensibility, he influenced generations of later artists. One of those, Fujiko F. Fujio, went on to define 20th-century manga in his own way. In Doraemon, the friendly cat-shaped robot, Fujio created a cultural icon recognized around the world.

  

  Jungle Emperor Leo was created by Tezuka Osamu

  

  Doraemon, the famous character from Fujiko F. Fujio

  4. Visit the editor’s desk

  While we rightly celebrate the work of great manga artists, they aren’t the only ones responsible for bringing manga to our shelves. Without dedicated editors, none of this would be possible. Through the story of Naoko Yamauchi, the editor of the popular manga serialSleepeeer Hit!, you’ll learn just how crucial the role of a manga editor is – in this case, Yamauchi and her team provide inspiration for the characters themselves. And, as you’ll learn, it’s not only the editors – there are the platesetters, the marketers, the booksellers and many more who toil into the small hours to bring manga to us.

  5. Stay contemporary

  Manga’s influence reaches far and wide – touching fashion, internet culture, video games and contemporary art. Indeed, it can be seen in the work of one of Japan's leading contemporary artists, Takashi Murakami. In Manga Out of the Box, you can explore his ongoing project, Doraemon x Takashi Murakami – an expression of his lifelong fondness for Fujiko F. Fujio’s manga classic.

  In the 21st century, manga continues to find new fans across the globe. As it evolves and occupies the digital space, it’s worth reflecting on its roots. They provide an insight into its lasting appeal. Reflecting on the playful, humane Doraemon, Takashi Murakami observes: “I think manga is art. I think it’s also a rare, original culture that was brought into the world by postwar Japan.” More acutely, he notes: “Manga is a culture of healing…” Whether you’re a devout manga fan or discovering it for the first time, Manga Out of the Box offers a window into that culture.

  Discover more on g.co/manga online or through the Google Arts & Culture mobile app on iOS and Android.

  
  
  https://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/arts-culture/manga-out-of-the-box/
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  Sign up today for Code Jam’s 2022 competitions
  • sorangutan  

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  Google's longest-running coding competition, Code Jam, is back for its 19th season. Code Jam to I/O for Women is also returning for a ninth year, bringing together women programmers from around the world. In both competitions, developers tackle algorithmic challenges designed by Google engineers — all while building their network, sharpening their coding skills and even winning some prizes.

  Want to participate? Read on to learn more about each event and how to sign up.

  Code Jam to I/O for Women kicks off March 26

  We launched Code Jam to I/O for Women to help build a more inclusive competitive coding community. And it’s grown rapidly over the years, with more than 23,000 registrants last season. This year, the top 150 competitors will receive a stipend and access to virtual Google I/O experiences. Whether you're a seasoned contestant or a brand new competitor, we invite you to register today for Code Jam to I/O for Women. Check out the archive to get a taste of the competition and start practicing with previous problems.

  Code Jam returns April 1

  At Code Jam, developers of all skill levels compete head to head in multiple online rounds. This season takes place from April to August, ending with a live streamed World Finals event. Competitors must earn enough points to advance to the next round. Out of thousands of participants, only the top 25 will head to the World Finals to compete for the title of World Champion and cash prizes of up to $15,000. And there will be plenty of other prizes to go around — the top 1,000 competitors will win an exclusive Code Jam 2022 t-shirt.

  Code Jam registration is now open until the end of the Qualification Round on April 3 at 2:00 UTC — visit our schedule page to find your exact time zone. We recommend warming up with previous problems from the archive to improve your chances of advancing to Round 1.

  We hope to see you on the scoreboard this season!

  
  
  https://blog.google/technology/developers/sign-up-today-for-code-jams-2022-competitions/
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  Our Search Liaison on 25 years of keeping up with search
  • sorangutan  

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  Danny Sullivan is Google’s Public Liaison for Search — meaning he explains the ins and outs of Search to the world, and tells the people who work on Search what the world is saying about it. On an average day, you might find Danny answering questions on Twitter, giving a presentation at an event or responding to feedback somewhere on the web. You might also find him at a Star Trek convention, but that’s a story for another day 🖖.

  Before Danny became our Search Liaison in 2017, he followed the world of search engines for more than two decades, and was one of the leading experts on the subject. In fact, it’s been 25 years since he launched one of the earliest online publications about search engine marketing. To celebrate this milestone, we talked to Danny about how he’s seen search engines evolve over the years, from both inside and outside of Google.

  How did you get interested in search technology?

  When I was in college, my idea of fun was to use our library search system, “Melvyl,” to see all the books that matched words like “history” or “science.” The searches would crash because there were so many results. But finding books digitally, rather than flipping through a card catalog, was amazing at the time. Later as a journalist, I had to craft intricate queries on LexisNexis to locate past articles. It could be a lot of work, but it was still exciting to see how tech made it easier to find useful material.

  By the time the internet and early search engines arrived, I was still captivated with search — only now it was possible to find content from anywhere in the world and get results within seconds, without formal search commands. It blew my mind, and I never got over that sense of awe. I’m still fascinated by search and the power it gives anyone to find information quickly and learn more about anything you dream up.

  How have you seen people's perceptions of search engines change over time?

  In the 1990s, I taught classes on search. Search engines weren’t always good at handling natural language queries, and learning special search commands could sometimes produce better results. People often felt it was their fault, rather than the search engine’s, if they didn’t find what they were looking for.

  Today, it feels like people are born knowing how to search. You just type what you want into a magic box, and poof! It delivers results — no classes needed. It also feels like people are less likely to blame themselves if they don’t find what they’re looking for. Perhaps it’s because search has become so advanced that people’s tendencies have changed. It’s so much easier to find what you need that people have developed higher (and well-justified!) expectations.

  People may not always remember the many times Google gets them exactly what they’re looking for, but they may notice the outliers — the times we don’t get it right. At Google, we see this as a positive. It suggests we've built and earned a reputation for delivering what people want, and we strive to do just that.

  What do you wish more people knew about Google Search?

  I don’t think most people realize how much work goes into regularly improving Search. We make thousands of improvements throughout the year — more than 5,000 in 2021 alone.

  Once we’ve decided on a change, we carefully evaluate it with quantitative feedback from live experiments and qualitative feedback from our human reviewers. If everything looks good, we ship it. For example, today we’re updating how we rank product reviews in Search to prioritize in-depth, first-person content.

  Last year, we conducted more than 800,000 experiments and ongoing quality tests to make sure the results we deliver — and changes we launch — actually make Search more useful for people. And we feel pretty confident this process is working. Over the last seven years, our internal metrics based on quality rater data show we’ve decreased the number of irrelevant results by over 50%.

  Over the last seven years, we’ve decreased the number of irrelevant results by over 50%. Danny Sullivan
  Public Liaison for Search

  How have you seen Google Search evolve over the years?

  Search has evolved along with the web and the way people access Search. There are more types of information — from AR to images and videos — and more features to help people find what they need, in the rich visual formats they want.

  We’ve even introduced more ways to search, like searching visually with Google Lens. The other day on a hike, I saw an insect on a flower, pointed Lens at it and it quickly identified the type of bee it was. I never could have imagined this when Search was just starting out.

  A less obvious way Search has evolved is in its understanding of what people are looking for. In 2019, we launched BERT, a neural network-based ranking improvement that can better understand natural language and longer queries. Interestingly, as we’ve used AI to improve our understanding of language over the years, we’ve seen people’s Search queries evolve, too. Since 2015, we’ve seen a more than 60% increase in natural language queries in Search. This means people can find what they need more easily, and using language that’s closer to the way we normally write and speak.

  What’s next for Search?

  Our deep understanding of information and the world around us — made possible by advancements in AI — is helping us reimagine what it means to “search.” Soon, you’ll be able to search with images and text simultaneously using Google Lens, helping you learn about the physical world and ask questions about what you see in a more intuitive way.

  I’m also really excited about how we can help people with all those questions that don’t have a single answer. Google’s great at finding answers to simple questions — but we also want to help people more easily navigate topics they’re not familiar with, or if they don’t even know where to start.

  After more than two decades thinking about Search, what’s most exciting to me is that it’s never a solved problem. We’ve only started to scratch the surface of how Google can help make information accessible and useful.

  
  
  https://blog.google/products/search/danny-25-years-of-search/
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  More helpful product reviews on Search
  • sorangutan  

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  People search on Google billions of times every day. Our Search systems are designed to sort through all the information that could be a good match, and we’re always updating our ranking systems to make sure they’re working well.

  Sometimes the improvements we make are broad and affect all types of queries. Others are more specialized, designed to improve results for more specific searches and the types of information we know people like to see.

  Take product reviews, for instance. We know people appreciate reviews that share in-depth research, rather than simply summarize a bunch of products. That’s why over the past year, we’ve been working to improve the product reviews we display in Search, with the latest update launching today.

  Our first updates were designed to, among other things, help ensure reviews come from people who demonstrate expert knowledge and first-hand research about products. Today’s update builds on this work to make sure that product reviews in Search meet certain criteria, such as:

  • Include helpful in-depth details, like the benefits or drawbacks of a certain item, specifics on how a product performs or how the product differs from previous versions
  • Come from people who have actually used the products, and show what the product is physically like or how it’s used
  • Include unique information beyond what the manufacturer provides — like visuals, audio or links to other content detailing the reviewer’s experience
  • Cover comparable products, or explain what sets a product apart from its competitors

  Our work to improve product reviews will continue, including expanding these updates to more languages beyond English. Ultimately, our goal is to help people find trustworthy, reliable advice when they come to Search — no matter what they’re looking for.

  For those who create reviews on the web, check out our tips for writing high quality product reviews.

  
  
  https://blog.google/products/search/more-helpful-product-reviews/
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  Get organized with a little Google Photos spring cleaning
  • sorangutan  

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  Flowers are blooming, the weather’s getting warmer, the days are a little longer — which means it’s also time for spring cleaning. Over the coming weeks, we’re starting to roll out some updates to Google Photos to make it even easier to sort through your albums, import photos and videos you have saved somewhere else, see your shared content and find screenshots. Let the decluttering begin!

  A more sortable library tab

  The best part of spring cleaning is knowing where everything is and being able to find it just like that. If you’re anything like me, you probably have a bunch of favorites, albums, shared albums and (if you’re on Android) on-device folders in your library tab of the Photos app. To make it easier to find what you’re looking for, we’re updating the layout to show a grid (or list) that you can quickly filter by type (albums, shared albums, favorites, on-device folders) and then sort.

  

  And we can help you organize photos and albums that aren’t on Google Photos. You know, the real-life photo album in the back of your closet or the photos you forgot to upload off your digital camera. Below the album grid we’re also adding a new “import photos” section alongside Locked Folder, utilities, archive and trash to help you easily copy photos from other services, digitize photos (or videos and film) or move photos from a camera. With all your photos and videos together in Google Photos, you can find and sort with ease, relive them in new ways with Memories, share them with family and friends, give them new life by editing them, turn them into photo books and much more.

  

  A tidier sharing tab

  When everything has its own spot, it’s easier to find what you need. We’re taking that idea and applying it to the sharing tab: We created sections for partner sharing, shared albums and conversations. With more defined sections, it’s easier to find, view and manage your shared photos and videos, and stay up to date so you never miss the latest snap. These updates to the sharing tab will begin rolling out on Android this week, and are coming soon to iOS.

  

  Do more with your screenshots

  If you’re using a Pixel or another Android device where your screenshots are saved to their own device folder, you can keep your gallery tidy by not backing that folder up. This keeps your screenshots separate from all your other memories, but if you don’t do something with a screenshot right away, you might forget you saved it in the first place (I know I do). To make finding your most recent screenshots a cinch if you choose not to back them up, we’ll soon be adding a shortcut that will appear at the top of your main photo grid to take you right to them.

  

  Also coming soon on Android, you’ll see a carousel of contextual suggestions to copy text, crop, search using Google Lens and more when viewing a screenshot. These suggestions help you quickly take action on your screenshots in just a tap.

  One of my favorite parts of Google Photos is that it takes the work out of managing, finding, reliving, editing and sharing my photos and videos — and all these updates make that a little bit easier.

  
  
  https://blog.google/products/photos/get-organized-google-photos-spring-cleaning/
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  Supporting a diverse set of publishers in Display & Video 360
  • sorangutan  

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  Last year, we introduced new ways to support Black-owned publishers in Display & Video 360’s Marketplace. We’ve heard from marketers that they also want to invest in publishers owned by members of other historically underrepresented communities. So we’ve added Latino- and Women-owned publishers attributes in Display & Video 360's Marketplace for U.S. advertisers.

  When accessing Marketplace, you can find inventory packages with attributes that feature inventory from Latino- and Women-owned publishers. We use those same attributes to make it easier to discover publishers owned by individuals from these communities, so you can add these properties to your media plans. Working in coordination with our Display & Video 360 exchange partners — Google Ad Manager, BidSwitch, GumGum, Kargo, Magnite, TripleLift, Xandr, Yahoo and Yieldmo — these publishers have self-identified as being part of these communities and have opted to participate in this program.

  As always, Display & Video 360 doesn’t allow advertisers to personalize ads based on categories such as race, religion, ethnicity or sexual orientation — and this program doesn’t change that.

  

  Agency partners are already finding success using Marketplace to discover new publishers. “Online media is primarily funded by advertising, so investing in a more diverse set of voices ensures their thoughts continue to be shared, heard and supported,” says Mary Kotara, a media consultant at Adswerve. “We’ve seen many of our partners continue to run campaigns month after month on Black-, Latino- and Women-owned publishers. The more advertisers spend their budgets more responsibly, the more publishers owned by members of underrepresented communities can become more visible.”

  
  
  https://blog.google/products/marketingplatform/360/supporting-diverse-set-publishers-display-video-360/
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  Meet 3 women who test Google products for fairness
  • sorangutan  

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  One of the most interesting parts of working at Google is learning what other people do here — it’s not uncommon to come across a job title you’ve never heard of. For example: ProFair Program Manager, or ProFair Analyst.

  These roles are part of our Responsible Innovation team, which focuses on making sure our tech supports Google’s AI Principles. One way the team does this is by conducting proactive algorithmic product fairness — or ProFair — testing. This means bringing social and cultural perspectives to the testing process, to assess how an AI or ML application, dataset or technique might avoid reinforcing unfair bias. Three women who work on ProFair testing are Anne Peckham, N’Mah Y. and Cherish M. and today we’re asking them: What’s your job?
  

  The job: ProFair Responsible Innovation

  Anne is a program manager, N’Mah is an analyst and Cherish is also an analyst.
  

  So…what do you do?

  Anne Peckham, a program manager working on ProFair for Responsible Innovation, says she primarily helps others get things done. “I organize projects, figure out strategies, identify what needs to get done, provide documentation, keep track of learnings…and do it again for each project.” N’Mah is a ProFair analyst. "I lead Profair training across Google, coordinate an ethics fellowship program for Googlers and design and conduct fairness tests for products before launch.” Cherish, also an analyst, does this as well. “I help product teams understand how to improve products ahead of launch. I drive our company-wide program in teaching Googlers how to test products, too.” Cherish says a big part of her role is making sure when product teams are building something they think of everyone who will use it — referencing the Google AI Principle of “avoid[ing] creating or reinforcing unfair bias.” “Far ahead of launch time, I look for ways a proposed AI application, ML model or dataset might not function optimally for a user due to unfair bias, so we can help fix it proactively. ”

  All three enjoy the variety that comes with this work. “I love how collaborative my role is,” Anne says. “I get to work on many types of projects and with lots of different teams — including the Responsible AI research group.” N’Mah also enjoys seeing the products she’s supported make a difference in the world once they’ve actually launched.

  “This role forces me to think outside the box, which I enjoy, and I’m able to advocate for users who may not be in the room,” Cherish says. “This job is very cerebral in nature. And I love collaborating with others to build these products for good.”

  • Anne is wearing winter clothes and standing on a snowy road next to a sign that says "Glacier National Park."

    Anne

  • A black and white photography of N'Mah. She is looking into the camera and smiling. She is wearing a striped blouse.

    N'Mah

  • A photograph of Cherish looking into the camera and smiling. She is swearing a khaki colored sweater.

    Cherish

  How did you choose this job?

  All three Googlers didn't know ProFair was an option when they were first considering their careers. “For a while, I wanted to be a librarian, but coming out of college, I’d been interested in doing political science research or program operations,” Anne says. “I had an entry level job as a program assistant where I was making lists and helping others move goals forward, and that skill transferred to different sectors.”

  “I wanted to be a lawyer, but ended up studying Middle East Studies and Spanish,” says N’Mah. “I focused on cross-cultural experiences, and that’s ultimately what drew me to this work.” That ended up aiding her, she says — it helps her understand how products impact people from different cultural backgrounds. Cherish also wanted to be a lawyer, and was interested in technology and ethics. “I was always interested in serving others,” she says. “But I had no idea this sort of career even existed! The teams and roles we work in were developed within the past few years.”

  What would you tell someone who wants your job?

  Today, there are more straightforward paths toward this work. “Thankfully people who are currently in school have networks to leverage to learn more about this work,” Cherish says. Still, she says, “there is no linear path.” Someone who wants to do this kind of work should be interested in technological innovation but also focused on doing so with social benefit top of mind.

  Anne agrees with Cherish: “There is no single path to this kind of work, but I’ve noticed people who choose this career are curious and passionate about wherever it is they are working on. I love program management, but others are passionate about building testing infrastructure, or achieving the most social benefit. You see them bring that enthusiasm to their teams.” Anne mentions that she didn’t think there was “room” for her in this field, which is something to consider for those interested in similar careers: The point of Product Fairness work is that all perspectives and backgrounds are included, not just people with MBAs and computer science degrees. “Ultimately, technology shouldnt be built for homogenous audiences,” Cherish says — and who works in this field should be just as diverse, too.

  N’Mah says you shouldn’t feel pigeon-holed by your academic or career background; different experiences, personal and professional, are needed here. “There are a variety of backgrounds you can come from to work in this space — that’s what makes the team great,” she says. “If you're interested in cross-cultural connections, or socially beneficial technical solutions, this could be an area of interest.” And if you’re someone who’s aware of their own unconscious biases, you might be naturally inclined toward a career in product fairness.

  Bonus question: For Women’s History Month, who are some of your women role models?

  “I have a strong group of female friends from high school who I’ve kept in touch with over the years,” Anne says. “We’ve all pursued different paths and have various strengths in our careers, but when we meet up, I love hearing what they’re passionate about and what they’re working on.” N’Mah says Harriet Tubman has always been a symbol to her of what’s possible in this country. “She persevered during a challenging moment in history and has done so much to push America forward socially.” For Cherish, she looks up to Maya Angelou. “She had such an incredibly poignant impact on society through her activism and her literature.”

  
  
  https://blog.google/inside-google/googlers/meet-3-women-who-test-google-products-fairness/
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  Basketball and brackets: a March love story
  • sorangutan  

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  March is synonymous with college basketball. Though my basketball career peaked in middle school, I still find myself cheering for the underdog and watching replays of buzzer beaters night after night. As college basketball heats up, we’ll fill out our brackets (I’m partial to Carolina Blue!), and follow along to the latest women’s and men’s games. Here are some ways to use Search to keep up with your favorite teams and athletes, and catch the best plays from all 100+ games across the tournaments.

  Stats leaderboard, trends addition

  Across Search we are seeing that people can’t wait for the games to tip off. Search interest in the United States for “when does march madness start” increased +1,700% in the past month. But with bragging rights on the line, people are also searching for “Bracketology,” which has been a breakout search topic all throughout the regular season in the US. In the spirit of friendly competition, we’ve decided to share ours with you, because who needs a high NET ranking when you have search interest to help pick a winner?

  Search interest in the United States for “when does march madness start” increased +1,700% in the past month.

  

  Keeping up with every play on Search

  Now, if it's hard for you to catch every game or maybe you just need an excuse to relive every play, you can do just that. We partnered with Turner Sports, CBS and the NCAA to help you tune-in live with March Madness Live and bring you in-game highlights and post-game recaps, all accessible through Search. Simply look up or click on a specific game and you will have access to real-time content, ensuring you don’t miss a single moment of nail-biting basketball.

  No matter which team you’re rooting for, we hope these features make Search work better for everyone. Here’s to a college basketball filled March and best of luck with your brackets.

  
  
  https://blog.google/products/search/basketball-and-brackets-march-love-story/
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  Taking the Living Building Challenge to the next level
  • sorangutan  

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  When we design and build Google offices around the world, we strive to deliver on our commitment to sustainability. This means thinking about everything from reducing and diverting waste to cultivating healthy spaces and places to accelerating carbon-free energy strategies. It also means working with industry leaders to pave a path for others and push the boundary of what’s possible. The Living Building Challenge (LBC) by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) is one of the most ambitious green building certifications in the world. Of the largest projects ever to pursue certification through ILFI, five are Google’s workplaces — including our newest office in Sunnyvale, California.

  Our collaboration with ILFI started nearly 20 years ago when we set out to combat the “new office” smell from fresh carpet and paint. As a sustainability partner for Google, this was one of my first projects: to use better materials to create the healthiest possible indoor environment. We used LBC’s Red List as a guide for what chemicals to avoid in our building products. Beyond improving the health of our indoor spaces, we also paved the way for others to purchase healthier materials. Through our purchasing power we encouraged more manufacturers to create third-party healthy material labels for their products.

  Since that first project, we’ve hit more milestones with buildings across the U.S.

  In 2015, we took our focus on materials to the next level with our Chicago office renovation. The 1000 West Fulton Market office renovation included 237,000 square feet of office space to build out. We expanded the reach of our Red List scope and pursued the ILFI’s LBC Materials Petal Certification. To do so, our project team reviewed every building product that was installed, procured responsibly sourced lumber, and prioritized local trade partners.

  Next up was our first ground-up developments: Charleston East and Bay View in Silicon Valley. At 1.1 million square feet, Bay View is set to open this year while Charleston East, at 600,000 square feet, is nearing completion. These two buildings allowed us to work with the LBC on a scale never done before.

  And finally, our newest addition to Google’s Sunnyvale campus — 237 Moffett Park Drive (237 MPD) — aspires toward a different kind of moonshot: to be the largest renovation project and the third-largest project ever certified by ILFI in the world. With this 250,000-square-foot project we are pursuing the ILFI’s LBC Materials Petal Certification, and we’ve designed the project to achieve four of the seven Petals and an LEED v4 Platinum Certification.

  

  The exterior of Google new Sunnyvale office, 237 MPD.

  The building was originally developed in the 1960’s as a research and development facility for one of the world’s first mainframe and supercomputer firms. We honored that legacy of innovation by transforming the existing building into a workplace that embodies regenerative design.

  There are many subtle and intentional design features that make 237 MPD an exceptional space. The integrated design team created Oculus, a huge penetration cut through the roof and structure of the building that floods the interior with natural light and views. Materials are given a second chance throughout the building — from still-functioning components of the original mechanical systems to roughly 300 interior doors made with veneer from oak trees salvaged from the Mendocino complex fires of 2018. In total, 3,400 tons of waste (or 91 percent of total waste generated) was diverted from the landfill. Beyond the building, the grounds were designed with wet meadows in low-lying areas and native oak trees on higher ground to echo the region’s historical ecology, offer habitat for wildlife and reduce the demand for water.

  237 MPD also looks to the future with innovative sustainability systems. A total of 5,000 on-site solar panels cover 91 percent of annual estimated energy demand. Helios, an interactive light sculpture, illuminates the building's Net Zero Energy goals by showing the building’s live energy data. Furthermore, captured and stored rainwater reduces potable demand for toilet flushing by 30 percent and 100 percent of irrigation demand is met by municipally-supplied recycled water. All of these design features create a workplace that is regenerative and promotes well-being, underpinned by the industry's most rigorous sustainability certification.

  • An aerial shot of a building shows an L-shaped office building with large glass windows. Outside the landscaping is made up of green shrubbery and bushes with yellow flowers spotted with coastal live oaks and divided by a paved walking path.

    Native landscaping — featuring coast live oaks — offers habitat for wildlife and reduces demand for water.

  • Inside the building there are multiple levels of seating, including amphitheater seating, a large sectional couch and small tables with chairs. The space is open and airy and punctuated with colored cushions and large potted plants. One of the walls is covered in white paneling made out of circuit boards.

    There are 31 salvaged materials scattered throughout the project. Showcased salvaged material installations include the circuit board art wall.

  • The office lobby has wood paneling on the ceiling and one wall that says 'Google Cloud' with a long reception desk made out of reclaimed redwood. In the corner a couch and two chairs are set against the backdrop of a large piece of abstract artwork.

    Salvaged materials are incorporated throughout the building, including in works by local artists as well as reclaimed redwood.

  • A wall inside a building features an installation that is made up of lines of lights that look like a sunburst. At the center is a digital screen that shows live energy data. The screen says, "Since we opened +120% energy harvested than used."

    Helios, an interactive light sculpture, quite literally illuminates the building's Net Zero Energy goals and shows the building’s live energy data.

  • An image of the courtyard is framed by an oval shape that looks down into the sun-filled courtyard that shows paved walkways, an outdoor staircase and landscaping.

    A new "oculus" courtyard is placed into the building's original structure, bringing daylight into previously dark areas of the building.

  Our work here isn't just about pursuing certification on bigger and bigger projects, it’s also about showcasing what is possible in regenerative building today as an inspiration to drive progress. In 2020, our 6 Pancras Square office in London became the first building in the world to be awarded a Zero Carbon certification, paving the way for a partnership between Google and ILFI to plan a volume approach to certification. In alignment to our aim to run our data centers and campuses on 24/7 carbon-free energy by 2030, we're exploring how we can use the ILFI Zero Carbon certification efficiently and effectively across our real estate portfolio.

  As we move forward, we’ll continue to approach our built environment as not simply a space for renovation, but also as an opportunity for regeneration.

  
  
  https://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/sustainability/living-building-challenge-2022/
• 

  Exposing initial access broker with ties to Conti
  • sorangutan  

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  In early September 2021, Threat Analysis Group (TAG) observed a financially motivated threat actor we refer to as EXOTIC LILY, exploiting a 0day in Microsoft MSHTML (CVE-2021-40444). Investigating this group's activity, we determined they are an Initial Access Broker (IAB) who appear to be working with the Russian cyber crime gang known as UNC1878 (Mandiant, FireEye) / WIZARD SPIDER (CrowdStrike).

  Initial access brokers are the opportunistic locksmiths of the security world, and it’s a full-time job. These groups specialize in breaching a target in order to open the doors—or the Windows—to the malicious actor with the highest bid.

  EXOTIC LILY is a resourceful, financially motivated group whose activities appear to be closely linked with data exfiltration and deployment of human-operated ransomware such as Conti and Diavol. At the peak of EXOTIC LILY’s activity, we estimate they were sending more than 5,000 emails a day, to as many as 650 targeted organizations globally. Up until November 2021, the group seemed to be targeting specific industries such as IT, cybersecurity and healthcare, but as of late we have seen them attacking a wide variety of organizations and industries, with less specific focus.

  We have observed this threat actor deploying tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) that are traditionally associated with more targeted attacks, like spoofing companies and employees as a means of gaining trust of a targeted organization through email campaigns that are believed to be sent by real human operators using little-to-no automation. Additionally and rather uniquely, they leverage legitimate file-sharing services like WeTransfer, TransferNow and OneDrive to deliver the payload, further evading detection mechanisms. This level of human-interaction is rather unusual for cyber crime groups focused on mass scale operations.

  Spoofing Organizations and Identities

  EXOTIC LILY’s attack chain has remained relatively consistent throughout the time we’ve been tracking the group:

  

  One notable technique is the use of domain and identity spoofing as a way of gaining additional credibility with a targeted organization. In the majority of cases, a spoofed domain name was identical to a real domain name of an existing organization, with the only difference being a change of TLD to “.us”, “.co” or “.biz”.

  Initially, the group would create entirely fake personas posing as employees of a real company. That would sometimes consist of creating social media profiles, personal websites and generating a fake profile picture using a public service to create an AI-generated human face. In November 2021, the group began to impersonate real company employees by copying their personal data from social media and business databases such as RocketReach and CrunchBase.

  

  One of the fake social media profiles created by EXOTIC LILY

  Using spoofed email accounts, attackers would then send spear phishing emails under the pretext of a business proposal, such as seeking to outsource a software development project or an information security service.

  

  Example of an EXOTIC LILY phishing email impersonating as an employee of a legitimate company

  Attackers would sometimes engage in further communication with the target by attempting to schedule a meeting to discuss the project's design or requirements.

  At the final stage, the attacker would upload the payload to a public file-sharing service (TransferNow, TransferXL, WeTransfer or OneDrive) and then use a built-in email notification feature to share the file with the target, allowing the final email to originate from the email address of a legitimate file-sharing service and not the attacker’s email, which presents additional detection challenges.

  

  Attacker uses a file-sharing service email notification feature to send BazarLoader ISO payload

  Human-Operated Phishing at Scale

  Further evidence suggests an operator’s responsibilities might include:

  • customizing the initial “business proposal” templates when first reaching out to a targeted organization;
  • handling further communications in order to gain affinity and trust;
  • uploading malware (acquired from another group) to a file-sharing service prior to sharing it with the target.

  A breakdown of the actor’s communication activity shows the operators are working a fairly typical 9-to-5 job, with very little activity during the weekends. Distribution of the actor’s working hours suggest they might be working from a Central or an Eastern Europe timezone.

  

  Breakdown of actor’s communication activity. Deeper color indicates more activity.

  Malware and Attribution

  Although the group came to our attention initially due to its use of documents containing an exploit for CVE-2021-40444, they later switched to the delivery of ISO files with hidden BazarLoader DLLs and LNK shortcuts. These samples have some indicators that suggest they were custom-built to be used by the group. For example, metadata embedded in the LNK shortcuts shows that a number of fields, such as the “Machine Identifier” and “Drive Serial Number” were shared with BazarLoader ISOs distributed via other means, however other fields such as the command line arguments were unique for samples distributed by EXOTIC LILY.
  

  

  In March, the group continued delivering ISO files, but with a DLL containing a custom loader which is a more advanced variant of a first-stage payload previously seen during CVE-2021-40444 exploitation. The loader can be recognized by its use of a unique user-agent “bumblebee” which both variants share. The malware, hence dubbed BUMBLEBEE, uses WMI to collect various system details such as OS version, user name and domain name, which are then exfiltrated in JSON format to a C2. In response, it expects to receive one of the several supported “tasks”, which include execution of shellcode, dropping and running executable files. At the time of the analysis, BUMBLEBEE was observed to fetch Cobalt Strike payloads.

  EXOTIC LILY activities overlap with a group tracked as DEV-0413 (Microsoft) and were also described by Abnormal in their recent post. Earlier reports of attacks exploiting CVE-2021-40444 (by Microsoft and other members of the security community) have also indicated overlaps between domains involved in the delivery chain of an exploit and infrastructure used for BazarLoader and Trickbot distribution.

  We believe the shift to deliver BazarLoader, along with some other indicators such as a unique Cobalt Strike profile (described by RiskIQ) further confirms the existence of a relationship between EXOTIC LILY and actions of a Russian cyber crime group tracked as WIZARD SPIDER (CrowdStrike), UNC1878 (Mandiant, FireEye) and DEV-0193 (Microsoft). While the nature of those relationships remains unclear, EXOTIC LILY seems to operate as a separate entity, focusing on acquiring initial access through email campaigns, with follow-up activities that include deployment of Conti and Diavol ransomware, which are performed by a different set of actors.

  Improving User Protection

  As part of our efforts to combat serious threat actors, we use results of our research to improve the safety and security of our products. In collaboration with Gmail and Safe Browsing, we are improving protections by adding additional warnings for emails originating from website contact forms, better identification of spoofing, and adjusting the reputation of email file sharing notifications. Additionally, we’re working with Google’s CyberCrime Investigation Group to share relevant details and indicators with law enforcement.

  TAG is committed to sharing our findings as a way of raising awareness with the security community, and with companies and individuals that might have been targeted or suffered from this threat actor’s activities. We hope that improved understanding of the group’s tactics and techniques will enhance threat hunting capability and lead to stronger user protections across industry.

  Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

  Recent domains used in email campaigns:

  • conlfex[.]com
  • avrobio[.]co
  • elemblo[.]com
  • phxmfg[.]co
  • modernmeadow[.]co
  • lsoplexis[.]com
  • craneveyor[.]us
  • faustel[.]us
  • lagauge[.]us
  • missionbio[.]us
  • richllndmetals[.]com
  • kvnational[.]us
  • prmflltration[.]com
  • brightlnsight[.]co
  • belcolnd[.]com
  • awsblopharma[.]com
  • amevida[.]us
  • revergy[.]us
  • al-ghurair[.]us
  • opontia[.]us

  BazarLoader ISO samples:

  • 5ceb28316f29c3912332065eeaaebf59f10d79cd9388ef2a7802b9bb80d797be
  • 9fdec91231fe3a709c8d4ec39e25ce8c55282167c561b14917b52701494ac269
  • c896ee848586dd0c61c2a821a03192a5efef1b4b4e03b48aba18eedab1b864f7

  Recent BUMBLEBEE ISO samples:

  • 9eacade8174f008c48ea57d43068dbce3d91093603db0511467c18252f60de32
  • 6214e19836c0c3c4bc94e23d6391c45ad87fdd890f6cbd3ab078650455c31dc8
  • 201c4d0070552d9dc06b76ee55479fc0a9dfacb6dbec6bbec5265e04644eebc9
  • 1fd5326034792c0f0fb00be77629a10ac9162b2f473f96072397a5d639da45dd
  • 01cc151149b5bf974449b00de08ce7dbf5eca77f55edd00982a959e48d017225

  Recent BUMBLEBEE C2:

  • 23.81.246[.]187:443

  
  
  https://blog.google/threat-analysis-group/exposing-initial-access-broker-ties-conti/
• 

  A Google engineer shares her technical interview tips
  • sorangutan  

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  Welcome to the latest edition of “My Path to Google,” where we talk to Googlers, interns and alumni about how they got to Google, what they do in their roles and how they prepared for their interviews.

  Today, Leann Johnson shares her interesting journey to Google and how she prepared for her technical interviews along the way.

  What do you do at Google?

  I’m a software engineer for the Google Compute Engine team in Google Cloud. My mission is simple: push software updates to our customers’ machines as often as possible without disrupting their day-to-day operations. My days are typically packed with a lot of meetings — from team syncs to one-on-one sessions with the talented engineers I have the privilege of leading. Outside of meetings, you can find me writing design documents, strategizing long-term projects, reviewing code changes and eating Google’s delicious food.

  What were you up to before Google?

  I grew up in the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. area, and studied math and computer science in college. After graduating, I did general programming and web development for eight years at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. During that time, I also got my master’s degree in computer science. While it was hard to leave a job where I literally met astronauts on a regular basis, Google and the Pacific Northwest came calling, and I couldn’t resist.

  Why did you apply to Google?

  I didn’t seriously consider applying at first, because I was happy in the position I already had. Then one day, Google invited me to participate in the Foobar Challenge, which is a series of difficult programming exercises. I remember how excited I was to get the invitation, and it took me about a month and a half to complete all five levels of the challenge. At the end, the tool asked if I wanted to submit my information to a Google recruiter. I thought really hard about that — starting the process of interviewing, leaving my job at NASA and moving my children to a new city. Ultimately, I decided that the potential benefits to my career and children's future outweighed the anxiety, stress and fear that might accompany the process. So I took a leap and submitted my information.

  What inspires you to come in (or log in) to work every day?

  I really enjoy the opportunity to work on Google-scale (very, very large) projects. That’s just not something you get to do at most companies. Plus, seemingly every single person I work with — from fresh graduates to tenured leadership — is pretty brilliant. The food is also highly motivating!

  How did you prepare for your interview?

  I mainly read technical interview prep books. Though I’d been coding professionally for eight years, I hadn’t experienced the typical programming interviews that I was going to face at Google, so I needed to brush up on those skills. I also created flash cards, which is a very effective memorization technique, and watched a lot of Google’s YouTube videos about what to expect during technical interviews.

  Any tips for aspiring Googlers?

  Yes, particularly for engineers! First, practice speaking out loud when you’re solving problems, especially if you typically work them out in your head. Second, don’t skimp on the preparation — know your algorithms and the interview structure. The more you’re used to the format, the less stressful the actual interviews will feel. And finally, remember the interviewers want you to do well. They are not there to criticize every tiny mistake. Getting a few hints is OK. Your main goal is to show the interviewer how you think and that you are capable of solving challenging problems, even if you don’t come up with the perfect answer — I certainly didn’t!

  Any advice for your past self?

  I wish I could go back and tell my past self that I was intelligent and capable enough to get a job at Google. I think a lot of the anxiety and stress I felt throughout the interview process came from not feeling adequate, which wasn’t the case!

  
  
  https://blog.google/inside-google/life-at-google/google-engineer-shares-her-technical-interview-tips/
• 

  Google.org Fellows help small businesses fight climate change
  • sorangutan  

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  Helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) cut down their carbon emissions is a vital step towards tackling climate change. 90% of emissions from large corporations can be traced to SMEs that play key roles in the creation of products and services.

  However, most SMEs do not have the resources to measure and manage their emissions. In a recent survey by the SME Climate Hub, 63% of respondents said they did not feel they have the right skills to take the appropriate climate action.

  Normative, a company based in Sweden who has developed the world's first carbon accounting engine, has been taking on this challenge by helping businesses calculate their climate footprints. Over the past 6 months, a team of 12 Google.org Fellows, comprising software engineers, UX designers and product managers from different Google offices across the globe came together with Normative to help build a carbon calculator for SMEs.

  The Business Carbon Calculator will be available for free, from today, to businesses through the UN-backed SME Climate Hub.

  

  With this tool, SMEs will be able to measure their carbon footprint and identify emission hotspots, including direct and indirect emissions. This data will give SMEs a great starting point to define their own sustainability plans and map appropriate actions to cut down on their emissions.

  Prior to the official launch of the tool, 123 organizations have used the tool during a 2-week long beta program and tracked a total of 54,000 tons of CO2 equivalent. This is comparable to CO2 emissions from burning 26 tons of coal.

  We first supported Normative’s work through a €1M euro Google.org Impact Challenge on Climate. The team and vision were so impressive that we decided to deepen this relationship by bringing our people alongside our philanthropy through a Google.org Fellowship — it felt like a natural next step.

  And so a team of Googlers worked full-time on an area they were extremely passionate about. Gabriella Araújo, a Product Marketing Manager in London, shared,

  “It was fantastic to work on climate tech. I had been involved in sustainability projects at Google on the side. And working full time on climate was an incredible opportunity. I worked across different areas of the launch- I was close to product development and loved thinking about different ways to bring a carbon accounting tool to SMEs. I'm very proud of what we've built and I know this will add real value for small businesses on their race to zero.”

  The challenge of slowing down climate change is a large one. We hope that the carbon calculator, along with the resources on the SME Climate Hub, will encourage SMEs all over the world to start their journey towards making their businesses more sustainable and resilient.

  
  
  https://blog.google/around-the-globe/google-europe/googleorg-fellows-help-small-businesses-fight-climate-change/
• 

  Matt Brittin on data, ethics, and privacy by design
  • sorangutan  

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  The following is adapted from remarks delivered by Matt Brittin, President, Google EMEA, at UBA Trends Dayin Brussels, on data, ethics, and privacy by design.

  ---

  I first accessed the internet in 1989 — the same year Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web.

  Bright text on dark backgrounds listing links to other pages of text listing more links. Thirty years later, it’s something many of us take for granted. Half of humanity is online, using tools that we could never have dreamed of. It’s open, affordable and would have seemed magical to me as a student.

  But, we’re running it all on a rule book that’s twenty years out of date; delight with the magic is tempered by concerns about how our data is used; and fears of technology being used for ill rather than for good.

  A century of advertising

  It’s often helpful to make sense of the future by understanding the past. Throughout history, advertising has helped make all kinds of media content affordable and accessible.

  About a century ago, as the global middle class was growing, modern business could reach potential customers at an undreamed of scale. But reaching all those people — without knowing how many of them might be interested in your product — was expensive and inefficient.

  Modern newspapers came up with ‘the bundle’ — ad space sold in specific sections like ‘Auto’ or ‘Fashion’. So that car companies could communicate directly to readers interested in cars; and coat sellers to readers interested in fashion.

  Mass-market magazines created ways to target diverse interest sets — creating magazines or sections specifically for gardeners, those interested in the natural world, or science fiction.

  And Broadcasting developed increasingly differentiated ‘genre entertainment’ — a novel form that helped advertisers segment and reach viewers based on assumptions about who was watching.

  All of these inventions benefited our everyday lives — bringing us our favorite magazines, TV shows or newspapers. And with measurement and data, advertisers were reassured that they were getting value from the exercise too. Ads have long funded our favorite content, and they’ve always been targeted.

  Preparing for the future

  That’s what made Google Search possible. It’s free to use not because we target based on knowing anything about you — just that you are searching for cycling shoes in Brussels right now. It gives you advertising that’s relevant and useful — and privacy safe.

  The web has brought an explosion of content and choice. And the chance to show a different ad to people reading the same article, or watching the same show.

  But the question for the web in 2022 is whether this model of advertising is good enough. With more people managing more of their lives online than ever before, the web is going through a fundamental shift. Citizens want more online privacy and control — and for the services they use to earn, and be worthy of, their trust.

  That means preparing for a future without third party cookies — by working with the industry to build and test new solutions in the Privacy Sandbox, like our latest proposal, the Topics API. Proposals that make advertising on the web more private and transparent — without needing to compromise on quality or content.

  The importance of distributed computing

  Now, reform also means regulation — clear tools and rules. We’re grateful to be getting a steer from regulators on a full range of issues, from cookies to online ads — and for the concern it shows for user privacy.

  Of course, with increased regulation comes intense engagement. Today, some are questioning whether services like Google Analytics can be properly used in Europe under the GDPR. The concern is that because it’s run by an America-based company, Google Analytics can’t totally remove the possibility that the US government could demand access to user data.

  This is a strictly hypothetical situation — because over the past 15 years, Google Analytics has never received a request of the kind speculated about in this case. While legal cases on this have only covered a few specific websites and their unique circumstances, there are others who are concerned that the same logic could be applied to any US-based provider or website — and indeed any EU-US data transfers.

  Talk to anyone in the technical or security communities, and they will tell you that scaled cloud computing of the kind supporting these services makes data more secure, not less. Scale makes it easier to fight hackers, scammers and thieves — by expanding the signals needed to detect them. It’s how platforms can offer customers the greatest possible security and redundancy.

  Today, Project Shield is a great example of that. It’s an advanced security technology that helps keep organizations safe from cyber attacks — particularly those designed to overwhelm small organizations with a flood of fake traffic.

  We use Project Shield to protect at-risk organizations across the world, like news sites, human rights organizations or election monitors. Including in countries like Ukraine, where over 150 government and news websites are currently being kept safe and online by Project Shield and in surrounding countries affected by the war — so that they can continue to provide valuable information and services to people on the ground.

  Here’s the kicker: like Google Analytics, the infrastructure that enables Project Shield relies on transatlantic data flows. We’re able to absorb massive attacks against individual websites by diffusing the traffic across a global network.

  The very processes that enable Project Shield — a service that is protecting news and human rights organizations across Europe — are themselves considered suspect because they don’t adequately protect European users from the United States.

  Towards a more responsible foundation

  Of course, we understand that there are concerns about U.S. surveillance overreach — and we share them. Google has lobbied many years for U.S. government transparency, lawful processes, and surveillance reform — and continues to fight for protections for digital citizens outside the U.S.

  We’ve done so while continuing in our belief that it is possible to advance international cooperation towards shared goals and against shared threats — and to build a future based on interests and values shared by democracies on both sides of the Atlantic.

  For users, advertisers and tech, this shift towards a privacy-first internet will be a good thing.

  Our studies have found that when users know that their privacy is respected, they respond with increased trust and interest. Users who feel they have control over their data are two times more likely to find content relevant; and three times more likely to react positively to advertising.

  For online advertising, and the internet as a whole, this is a page-turning moment. We’re getting tools and rules. Legal clarity. Codes of practice. And a regulatory dialogue. A new future of advertising is coming: one that puts privacy front and center.

  
  
  https://blog.google/technology/safety-security/matt-brittin-data-ethics-and-privacy-design/
• 

  A $4 million fund for Europe’s Black founders
  • sorangutan  

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  Black founders have long been playing a key role in Europe’s economy by solving challenges with agility, resilience and innovative technology. But we’ve known for a long time that Black founders do not have the same opportunities and support as many others. Less than 0.5 percent of venture capital (VC) funding goes to Black-led startups, despite the fact that 77% of Black-led tech startups generate revenue and create an average of 5.4 jobs each.

  When we opened applications for the first $2 million Google for Startups Black Founders Fund in Europe last year, we were blown away by demand. Almost 800 people applied from across Europe, and 30 startups were selected across fintech, healthcare, beauty, gaming, healthcare and commerce. These startups have gone on to raise over $63 million collectively in funding, and hired more than 100 people, since the program began. When given the right opportunities, Black founders thrive.

  

  Since receiving capital from Google in 20201, founders have gone on to raise funding, hire new employees and grow.

  That's why today, we’re launching a second round of investments in the Google for Startups Black Founders Fund in Europe, a $4 million fund for Black-led tech startups in the region. With double the funding from our inaugural fund, we hope to help even more startups succeed this year.

  Established in 2020, the Google for Startups Black Founders Fund provides cash awards — without giving up equity in return — and hands-on support to help Black entrepreneurs build and grow their businesses. The Black Founders Fund has awarded more than $16 million in Europe, Brazil, Africa and the U.S. toward making a resounding impact to help Black-led startups secure funding, strengthen communities and create generational change.

  In addition to up to $100,000 (approximately 89,000 Euros) in non-dilutive cash awards, Black Founders Fund recipients receive ongoing Google mentorship and product support to help them navigate every stage of their startup process—including up to $200,000 (approximately 179,000 Euros) in Google Cloud credits.

  Founders will also be introduced to each other and the global Google for Startups community of experts for leadership, growth and technical support. This includes partnerships with leading firms to provide specialist support ranging from marketing support from WPP; advice on raising capital from Tier 1 venture capitalists; to donated media campaigns and creative support from national broadcasters like ITV.

  Last year’s Black Founders Fund recipients have seen tangible growth and success in the nine months since first receiving the awards. That includes AudioMob, a UK-based startup transforming how game developers are monetizing their games, who recently raised another $14 million; Berlin-based Kwara, which digitizes financial cooperatives to give their members an easier way to manage money and build a credit history, whichraised $4 million in follow-on funding; and Playbrush, a startup based in Vienna, Austria, making oral health care fun by connecting toothbrushes to phones and tablets, which was acquired by Sunstar in September. We can’t wait to see what this year’s cohort will achieve.

  • A quote from La La Land, a Startup which received funding from the first European Black Founders Fund

    La La Land, a Startup which received funding from the first European Black Founders Fund

  • A quote from Bosque, a Startup which received funding from the first European Black Founders Fund

    Bosque, a Startup which received funding from the first European Black Founders Fund

  • A quote from Scoodle, a Startup which received funding from the first European Black Founders Fund

    Scoodle, a Startup which received funding from the first European Black Founders Fund

  Applications for the Google for Startups Black Founders Fund in Europe are open from today. Black-led startups with a live product in market and early traction are encouraged to apply. Applications will close on April 17th.

  To find out more about the program, and to apply, visit this link: https://www.campus.co/europe/black-founders-fund/

  
  
  https://blog.google/around-the-globe/google-europe/a-4-million-fund-for-europes-black-founders/
• 

  Introducing Related search for content pages
  • sorangutan  

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  We’re always looking for ways to help publishers make more money through high-quality ads. AdSense for search already plays an important role by allowing publishers to monetize search results on their own website or mobile app. And today, we’re introducing Related search for content in AdSense for search, a new feature for publishers to create even more useful search experiences on their sites.

  

  Related search for content is a contextual navigation unit that shows users search terms related to the page they’re viewing on a publisher’s website. When they click a search term, they're taken to a search results page on the publisher’s site where they can explore other relevant topics, including search ads. As a result, Related search for content can help publishers increase site engagement — including site traffic, pageviews and ad impressions — and drive incremental revenue.

  As a contextual unit, Related search for content is a privacy-preserving solution. It uses page content, instead of user data, to deliver relevant search terms. Meanwhile, ads on the search page target the search term the user clicked on, rather than actual user data.

  If you’re interested in using Related search for content, please contact your account manager to activate AdSense for search for your AdSense account.

  For more information and future updates, check out our help page.

  
  
  https://blog.google/products/adsense/introducing-related-search-content-pages/
• 

  Black Founders Fund: Meet the UK Founders
  • sorangutan  

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  From the internet to the world’s first vaccine, the United Kingdom has long been home to groundbreaking ideas that have changed the world. Great ideas come from everywhere, but in most cases, an idea alone isn’t enough to bring an invention or a business to life. Funding plays a key role in turning a brainstorm into a business venture.

  Unfortunately, startup founders do not have equal access to funding. In 2020, less than 0.25% of venture capital (VC) funding went to Black-led startups in the U.K. and only 38 Black founders received venture capital funding in the last 10 years. Black founders are disproportionately over-mentored, yet underfunded, and in many cases not being given access to the resources needed to turn great ideas into great businesses.

  Nobody wins in this cycle of underrepresentation. Black founders miss out on opportunities to bring their vision to life, investors miss out on opportunities for worthwhile returns, and society as a whole misses out on innovative solutions that were never given the opportunity to grow as they should.

  That’s why in 2021 we launched the firstBlack Founders Fund in Europe to help tackle the inequality in venture capital, and today we’re launching a new fund, twice the size, and inviting Black-led startups to apply for a total of $4 million worth of non-dilutive cash awards.

  Some say there’s a pipeline problem when it comes to funding black startups, but we know this isn’t true: last year we received almost 800 applications from across Europe. Some of the exceptional British startups that received last year’s funding range from Axela’s data-enhanced healthcare solutions to Kami’s virtual support systems for parents.

  Our teams partnered with ITV, WPP, Allen & Overy and Soho House to offer last year’s 20 U.K.-based founders free advertising opportunities, legal support and co-working space, in addition to Google Cloud grants and ads support. This gave the founders the time and resources needed to grow their businesses, and the results speak for themselves: last year’s group raised over $63 million (approx £48 million) in subsequent funding and increased their staff headcount by 21%!

  In the video above, two UK-based founders, Rachael Corson, founder of haircare line Afrocenchix, and Ismail Jeilani, founder of education influencer platform Scoodle, discuss the fund’s impact on their businesses and explain why more Black founders should apply for this year’s fund.

  
  
  https://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/entrepreneurs/black-founders-fund-meet-uk-founders/
• 

  Top news from the Google for Games Developer Summit
  • sorangutan  

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  This week, we hosted the Google for Games Developer Summit, a free digital event for developers, publishers and advertisers to discuss what’s new in games. And with over three billion global players across platforms, there was plenty of ground to cover. From Android Game Development Kit updates to the new Immersive Stream for Games, we shared the latest tools to help you build your next adventure, find new players and take your game to the next level.

  Missed the summit? Here’s a quick recap of the top announcements. For more details, catch the keynote and developer sessions available on demand.

  Reach more devices through new tools and platforms

  We’re committed to supporting developers of all sizes who are building high-quality Android games. Updates to the Android Game Development Kit simplify the development process, while new data insights in Play Console can help you make smarter business decisions. We’re also enabling games on new screens and devices, including the Google Play Games for PC Beta, so you can meet players wherever they are.

  Improve your game growth strategy with ads

  Advertisers can now improve target return on ad spend (tROAS) performance with App campaigns by integrating AdMob and third-party ad revenue data into Google Analytics for bid optimization. Publishers can get more visibility into return on investment with impression-level lifetime value in AdMob, also available for app attribution platforms Adjust, AppsFlyer and Singular. Learn more about these product announcements in our recent Google Ads blog post.

  Create safe, inclusive gaming experiences with Google Cloud

  In partnership with game creators and the open source community, we want to ensure games are social, enjoyable and inclusive for players everywhere. With Clean Chat, a new open source AI framework for games, studios can now proactively detect negative dialogue in both text and voice chat.

  Build a direct-to-consumer business with Immersive Stream for Games

  Developers and publishers interested in building a direct-to-consumer business can now deliver their titles directly to players with Immersive Stream for Games. Developed by the Stadia team in partnership with Google Cloud, Immersive Stream for Games combines advanced streaming technology with cheaper and easier game porting, powerful discovery features and analytics. Whether you want to offer game trials, full games, subscription bundles or even power an entire storefront, Immersive Stream for Games can help.

  Thanks for joining us at this year’s Google for Games Developer Summit — remember to check out the on-demand sessions, and stay tuned for more gaming updates soon. We’re here to help you keep building and innovating your games for players everywhere.

  
  
  https://blog.google/technology/developers/top-news-google-games-developer-summit/
• 

  Let’s get personal: Adaptive learning tech and education
  • sorangutan  

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  Twelve years ago, Shantanu Sinha left his job to join his long-time friend Sal Khan’s new venture. At the time, Sal was spending his days making educational YouTube videos. It was an unusual career choice for both of them. But they saw what was possible when students had more agency over their learning and how technology could play a role. Together they started the online education platform Khan Academy, and Shantanu worked there for five years.

  Today, Shantanu is the head of Google for Education. His team works to improve teaching and learning with technology, and one promising area is their work with adaptive learning technology. This emerging, AI-driven technology supports tailored learning experiences for students and helps amplify teacher instruction.

  To get a crash course on adaptive learning technology and what it means for students and teachers, we talked to Shantanu.

  What exactly is adaptive learning technology?

  The concept of adaptive learning has been around for decades. It refers to a type of learning where students are given customized resources and activities to address their unique learning needs. For example, if a student struggles with adding fractions, a teacher might offer 1:1 tutoring or additional practice problems. You can see the concept of adaptive learning play out in gaming. When I was a kid I remember playing Carmen Sandiego and noticing how the system was tailored to me and changed whenever I got something wrong.

  What’s new is applying recent AI advances to this concept, which opens up a whole new set of possibilities to transform the future of school into a personal learning experience.

  Can you share an example of what this might look like?

  Imagine you’re a student stuck on a math problem. With 25 other students in your class, you can't always get immediate help, leaving you frustrated and diminishing your confidence to complete future problems. Now imagine a different scenario. You’re stuck on a problem, but instead of growing frustrated, you receive a helpful hint or video that gives you exactly what you need to unblock you. You realize what you need to do differently, complete the math problem correctly and feel more confident in your ability to learn.

  Early attempts at adaptive learning worked only for very specific content and curricula. With recent AI advances in language models and video understanding, we can now apply adaptive learning technology to almost any type of class assignment or lesson at an unprecedented scale. When students receive individualized, in-the-moment support, the results can be magical.

  

  Tell us about the magic.

  We recently talked to an educator who is testing out a new adaptive learning feature that we’re developing called practice sets in Google Classroom. The feature allows teachers to create interactive assignments and provides students with real-time feedback. He said the instant feedback that kids received was like having a teaching assistant in the classroom at all times. The technology helped give students 1:1 attention and validation — so they knew right away whether they got a problem correct or incorrect — and drove students’ intrinsic motivation and engagement through the roof.

  I saw a similar phenomenon back when I was part of Khan Academy. Over time, students not only became more proficient with subject matter content, but also in their ability to learn new material. They learned how to learn.

  How does adaptive learning technology help teachers?

  Adaptive learning technology saves teachers time and provides data to help them understand students’ learning processes and patterns. For example, with practice sets, teachers can quickly see a student’s attempts at a given problem, so they know where a student got stuck and can identify areas for improvement. Since assignments are auto-graded, teachers can devote more time to making sure that each student gets the instruction and practice they need to succeed.

  So is the future of education more personal?

  Learning is inherently personal. Education should feel personal too, but there are time and resource constraints. As we build toward a more personal future for education, adaptive learning technology can help us get there faster. Our goal is to power the pursuit of personal potential — for both teachers and students — in and out of the classroom.

  Over these past two years, technology has influenced where people can learn, but has it changed the way people learn?

  When I look back to the start of my career and where the world is now, it’s clear that having immediate access to information has fundamentally transformed how, when and where we learn. Today, learning is a muscle we flex easily and often. At Google, we see this play out each day: 85% of U.S. YouTube viewers surveyed say they learn or improve their skills on the platform1 and more than a billion people turn to Search each day to discover something new.

  As we think about the evolution of learning, what role can Google play?

  We aim to be a learning company — for school, for work and for life. Last year, we launched a site all about our ongoing commitment to help everyone in the world learn anything in the world. Learning is personal. I’m excited to continue working with our partners to build toward a more personal future of education. When we apply the right technology to the process of teaching and learning, exciting things start to happen.

  
  
  https://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/education/adaptive-learning-technology/
• 

  Practice sets: a more personal path to learning
  • sorangutan  

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  Everyone learns in their own way — but we do share a few patterns in common. We all learn more effectively when we practice, and even more so when we get specific feedback.

  But with large classes of students at different skill levels, teachers can have trouble supporting individual journeys and learning styles. So we spoke with educators around the world to see how we could help them become more effective in the classroom. Time and again, they said they wanted to spend less time on tedious tasks like grading, and more time focused on their students’ unique needs.

  So today, we’re announcing an upcoming feature in Google Classroom to help them do just that. Practice sets will give teachers the time and tools to better support their students — from more interactive lessons to faster and more personal feedback.

  10:25

  Supercharge teaching content and get class insights

  With practice sets, educators can easily transform their own teaching content into interactive assignments and use the autograding tool to cut down on manual grading time. Practice sets also help teachers figure out which concepts need more instruction time and who could use extra support, giving them quick performance insights to shape future lesson plans.

  Boost student confidence and celebrate their progress

  Students get real-time feedback as they complete practice sets, so they know whether they’re on the right track. When they’re struggling to solve a problem, they can get hints through visual explainers and videos. And when they get an answer correct, practice sets will celebrate their success with fun animations and confetti.

  One fifth-grade teacher, who used practice sets in a recent trial, saw the benefits in action: “The kids were calling it ‘Google magic’ because of the hints, pop-ups and instant feedback they received. That’s what makes practice sets a real game changer for their learning experience.” They also liked the focused support: “Practice sets also helped meet students’ needs when I couldn’t meet with them at that moment.”

  • Student experience in practice sets, getting a hint from resources when they are stuck

    Students get real time feedback and hints when they get stuck, like video resources

  • Educator experience when creating a practice set

    Educators can use existing content or create a practice set from scratch

  • Educator view of insights dashboard in practice sets

    Educators can view automated insights of assignment performance trends in Classroom grader view

  Get ready for practice sets

  We’re actively testing practice sets with some schools in anticipation of our beta launch in the coming months. Practice sets will be available within Google Classroom for any educator using the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, or any institution using Google Workspace for Education Plus. If you’re interested in participating in the beta, get in touch with us.

  To learn more about adaptive learning technology and its potential impact on the future of education, read our latest blog post.

  
  
  https://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/education/introducing-practice-sets/