Google Cloud Platform News

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  An update on state-sponsored activity
  • sorangutan  

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  We’ve invested in robust systems to detect phishing and hacking attempts, identify influence operations launched by foreign governments, and protect political campaigns from digital attacks through our Protect Your Election program.

  Our Threat Analysis Group, working with our partners at Jigsaw and Google’s Trust & Safety team, identifies bad actors, disables their accounts, warns our users about them, and shares intelligence with other companies and law enforcement officials.

  This week, there has been a lot of news about attempted state-sponsored hacking and influence campaigns. We wanted to provide an update on some of our ongoing work in this area:

  • State-sponsored phishing attacks 
    
  • Technical attribution of a recently-reported influence campaign from Iran 
    
  • Detection and termination of activity on Google properties

  State-sponsored phishing attacks

  Phishing—attempts to trick users into providing a password that an attacker can use to sign into an account—remains a threat to all email users. Our ​improving ​technology has enabled ​us to ​significantly ​decrease ​the ​volume of ​phishing ​emails that ​get ​through to our users. ​Automated ​protections, ​account ​security ​(like ​security ​keys), ​and specialized ​warnings give ​Gmail users industry-leading ​security. As part of our security efforts, for the past eight years, we’ve displayed prominent warnings to Gmail users who are at risk of phishing by potentially state-sponsored actors (even though in most cases the specific phishing attempt never reaches the user’s inbox).

  In recent months, we’ve detected and blocked attempts by state-sponsored actors in various countries to target political campaigns, journalists, activists, and academics located around the world. When we’ve seen these types of attacks, we’ve notified users as well as law enforcement.

  On Monday morning, we issued our most recent series of notifications to Gmail users who were subject to suspicious emails from a wide range of countries. We posted about these sorts of warnings here—if you received this type of warning, please read the blog post and take action immediately.

  Iran and FireEye

  To complement the work of our internal teams, we engage FireEye, a leading cybersecurity group, and other top security consultants, to provide us with intelligence. For the last two months, Google and Jigsaw have worked closely with FireEye on the influence operation linked to Iran that FireEye identified this week. We’re grateful to FireEye for identifying some suspicious Google accounts (three email accounts, three YouTube channels, and three Google+ accounts), which we swiftly disabled. FireEye’s full report has just been published today. It’s worth reading.

  In addition to the intelligence we received from FireEye, our teams have investigated a broader range of suspicious actors linked to Iran who have engaged in this effort. We’ve updated U.S. lawmakers and law enforcement about the results of our investigation, including its relation to political content in the United States. We wanted to provide a summary of what we told them.

  Connections to IRIB: forensic evidence

  Our technical research has identified evidence that these actors are associated with the IRIB, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.

  We can’t go into all the technical details without giving away information that would be helpful to others seeking to abuse our platforms, but we have observed the following:

  • Technical data associated with these actors is strongly linked to the official IRIB IP address space.
    
  • Domain ownership information about these actors is strongly linked to IRIB account information.
    
  • Account metadata and subscriber information associated with these actors is strongly linked to the corresponding information associated with the IRIB, indicating common ownership and control.

  These facts, taken together with other technical signals and analysis, indicate that this effort was carried out as part of the overall operations of the IRIB organization, since at least January 2017. This finding is consistent with internet activity we’ve warned about in recent years from Iran.

  • We’ve regularly sent warnings to Gmail users about phishing attempts coming from Iran (including on Monday).
    
  • We detected and warned users about a covert man-in-the-middle security attack in Iran in 2011.
    
  • We uncovered and warned users about politically-motivated phishing in Iran in 2013.
    

  Detecting and terminating activity on Google properties

  Actors engaged in this type of influence operation violate our policies, and we swiftly remove such content from our services and terminate these actors’ accounts. Additionally, we use a number of robust methods, including IP blocking, to prevent individuals or entities in Iran from opening advertising accounts.

  We identified and terminated a number of accounts linked to the IRIB organization that disguised their connection to this effort, including while sharing English-language political content in the U.S.:
  

  • 39 YouTube channels that had 13,466 total US views on relevant videos; 
    
  • 6 blogs on Blogger
    
  • 13 Google+ accounts

  Our investigations on these topics are ongoing and we will continue to share our findings with law enforcement and other relevant government entities in the U.S. and elsewhere, as well as with others in the industry.

  The state-sponsored phishing attacks, and the actors associated with the IRIB that we’ve described above, are clearly not the only state-sponsored actors at work on the Internet. For example, last year we disclosed information about actors linked to the Internet Research Agency (IRA). Since then, we have continued to monitor our systems, and broadened the range of IRA-related actors against whom we’ve taken action. Specifically, we’ve detected and removed 42 YouTube channels, which had 58 English-language political videos (these videos had a total of fewer than 1,800 U.S. views). We’ve also identified and terminated the account associated with one blog on Blogger.

  We continue to actively monitor our systems, take prompt action, share intelligence, and remain vigilant about these and other threats.

  
  
  https://www.blog.google/technology/safety-security/update-state-sponsored-activity/
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  Fifteen grants to support computing research for undergraduate women
  • sorangutan  

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  Ayanna Howard, Professor and Chair of the School of Interactive Computing at the Georgia Institute of Technology, wouldn’t be where she is today without her undergraduate research experiences at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Growing up, Ayanna seemed to have a knack for math, puzzles, computers and gaming. By the time she started college, she had figured out her passion for robotics, and became a summer intern at JPL. The hands-on research experiences, the formation of a strong network of peers and advisers while at JPL helped motivate Ayanna to pursue her PhD and eventually a career in academia.
  

  Studies show that undergraduate exposure to hands-on research experiences can profoundly influence a student’s academic and career path. This is particularly true for women who are underrepresented in computing and who may see research careers as “not for them” because of the lack of support when pursuing research careers and pathways to computing.
  

  To get more women involved in research and computing, we’re providing 15 exploreCSR (Computer Science Research) grants to support universities running CS research-focused workshops for undergraduate women. These workshops, modeled on, and inspired by Carnegie Mellon University's, OurCS, will help undergraduate women to enhance their research skills, create a sense of community with peers and faculty, instill confidence to problem solve beyond the classroom, and inspire and motivate them toward careers in research.
  

  Here are the recipients (including Ayanna Howard!) who collectively plan to reach ~1,200 undergraduate women in 2018-2019:
  

  Georgia Institute of Technology
  Ayanna Howard, Professor and Chair
  Improving the Academic Matriculation of Undergraduate Women in Graduate Computing (I.AM.GradComputing) Workshop

  Howard University
  Latifa Jackson, Assistant Professor
  Broadening Participation in Data Mining (BPDM) Workshop

  Indiana University - Bloomington
  Suzanne Menzel, Senior Lecturer
  OurCS: Opportunities for Undergraduate Research in Computer Science

  Louisiana Tech University
  Benjamin Drozdenko, Assistant Professor
  Cyber Research for Empowering Women Experimenters (CREWE)

  Michigan Technological University
  Jean Mayo, Associate Professor
  Exploring Computer Science Research

  The University of Texas at El Paso
  Martine Ceberio, Associate Professor
  Building Pathways to Graduate School as a Way of Recruiting and Retaining Undergraduate Female Students in Computing

  University of Maine, Orono
  Penny Rheingans, Director, School of Computing and Information Science
  ResearchME: Maine Research Focused Workshops and Mentor Networks

  University of Maryland, Baltimore County
  Danyelle Ireland, Associate Director, Center for Women in Technology
  The CS-Impact Workshop Series: Exploring Opportunities for Undergraduate Computer Science Research & Graduate study

  University of Michigan
  Rada Mihalcea, Professor and Co-Director Girls Encoded
  Building a Diverse Research Community: Introducing Women to Computer Science Research

  University of Minnesota Twin Cities
  Maria Gini, Professor
  Exposing students to undergraduate research opportunities, while guiding and mentoring them through the process

  University of New Mexico
  Lydia Tapia, Associate Professor
  Becoming a Robot Guru Workshop

  University of Pennsylvania
  Chris Callison-Burch, Associate Professor
  SPUR WOMEN: Support and Promote Undergraduate Research for Women

  University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez
  Nayda G. Santiago, Associate Professor
  Increasing Hispanic Women participation in Undergraduate Computing Research

  University of Washington
  Richard Ladner, Professor Emeritus
  OurCS@UW + AccessComputing

  The selected group of grantees represent a diverse mosaic of faculty and institutions that brings a clear focus on cultivating and retaining a “critical mass” of women in computing, and a commitment to exposing undergraduate women in computing to foundational research training. As the workshops take flight in the new school year, we hope to share updates on each workshops’ progress and results.

  
  
  https://www.blog.google/outreach-initiatives/education/fifteen-grants-support-computing-research-undergraduate-women/
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  Don’t run out of data: Two new ways Datally can help
  • sorangutan  

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  Everyone runs out of data sometimes. These moments sting—which is why we built Datally to help. And today, we’re releasing two new features to help you tame your data.

  Emergency bank

  Emergency bank saves some of your data so you have it protected for later—just in case you need it. Enter your balance and how much data you’d like to save for emergencies, and Datally will automatically block your apps from using data once you reach your emergency data allowance. You decide when and how to use your emergency bank data—for example, to send that urgent message or schedule a ride home.

  Bedtime mode

  Check your data balance before bed, then check again when you wake up. It should be the same, shouldn’t it? Too often, apps drain your data overnight. Bedtime mode turns off all of your phone’s data usage at night. Choose your bedtime and wake up time, and Datally makes sure your data isn’t draining while you’re dozing.

  Datally’s mission is to help you never run out of data. You can use Emergency bank and Bedtime mode starting today.

  
  
  https://www.blog.google/technology/next-billion-users/datally-emergency-bank-bedtime-mode/
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  VR Labs Open Doors of Opportunity for STEM Students
  education google ar and vr • • sorangutan  

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  For students pursuing STEM degrees like biology, hands-on time in a lab can be as essential as time spent in the lecture hall or library. In fact, for many science-based degrees, it’s required. But getting access to a lab isn’t always easy. Many students don't live close enough to a lab facility or a university that offers their degree of choice. Others find it hard to get enough lab time because student demand is too high or their school can't afford to provide unlimited access.

  Through its ability to take people anywhere, virtual reality can be a powerful resource for students who otherwise would not have access to the lab time they need to complete their degrees.  We partnered with science education company Labster to create more than 30 virtual labs on the Daydream platform, where students can do their lab work in VR without having to walk, drive, or fly to a campus.  These VR labs can be particularly useful to students and faculty at the rapidly-growing number of schools that offer online science degrees. 

  Earlier this month, students in Arizona State University’s online B.S. in Biological Sciences program began working in these virtual labs for full course credit. Soon students at the University of Texas at San Antonio, McMaster University, and other institutions across North America and Europe will be able to do their lab work in VR as well.  

  Through its ability to take people anywhere, virtual reality can be a powerful resource for students who otherwise would not have access to the lab time they need to complete their degrees.

  

  UsingDaydream View or the Lenovo Mirage Solo with Daydream, students can do things that previously necessitated a physical presence in a lab, like examining organisms under a microscope and sequencing DNA. They can also do things that wouldn’t be possible in the physical world, like seeing and manipulating DNA at the molecular level and visiting Astakos IV, a newly discovered exoplanet being explored as a potential habitat for human beings.

  Because there’s no time limit, students can review theories, concepts, and techniques as many times as they want. In addition, students receive personalized feedback in the app to help them understand which concepts they need to review, and which techniques need more practice.

  

  We’re hoping to make the virtual lab experience available to more students worldwide, including undergraduates, graduate students, and even high schoolers.

  If you’d like to bring the virtual lab experience to your school, you can learn more at labster.com/vr.

  
  

  
  
  https://www.blog.google/products/google-ar-vr/vr-labs-open-doors-opportunity-stem-students/
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  Easier Search Console access for Analytics owners
  search analytics • • sorangutan  

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  Verifying websites in Search Console can be useful for site owners, giving you access to information about how your site is performing in Google Search. You can also get notified of issues, such as accidental blocking of Googlebot or getting hacked. Over the next few months, if you're a verified owner of a Google Analytics property, we'll now automatically verify you for that same website in Search Console.

  Quicker verification, with no extra steps

  Now that we're launching auto-verification, you don't have to manually configure Search Console and Analytics. To be eligible for auto-verification, you still need to follow the existing requirements for Search Console ownership. If you don't want to be verified for Search Console, simply delete the property in Search Console.

  See how your site is performing on Google Search

  Search Console is a free tool that provides website owners with information which can be critical to performance in Google Search. Once verified, Search Console compiles reports on the website's performance in Search, including search queries, the website's rankings, and the number of clicks and impressions. Additionally, there's information about a site's indexing, the status of various implemented features on the website, as well as reports and notifications of critical issues.

  
  We hope this change makes it easier for you to get access to data in Search Console, to be able to discover issues quicker, as well as to learn about opportunities for your website in Google Search. If you have any questions, visit the Webmaster Help Forum.
  
  https://www.blog.google/products/marketingplatform/analytics/easier-search-console-access-analytics-owners/
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  New Analytics Academy course: Google Analytics for Power Users
  • sorangutan  

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  Today, we're introducing a new course in Analytics Academy: Google Analytics for Power Users.

  

  In this course with instructor Krista Seiden, you will have the opportunity to practice advanced Analytics techniques to  improve website content, optimize your checkout flow, and focus your marketing strategy.

  By participating in the course, you’ll learn how to:
  

  • Analyze converting and non-converting audiences

  • Determine the traffic sources that drive the most value

  • Customize channels for increased actionability

  • Identify top performing content on your site

  • Improve ecommerce performance

  Sign up for Google Analytics for Power Users to start learning today.

  
  
  https://www.blog.google/products/marketingplatform/analytics/new-analytics-academy-course-google-analytics-power-users/
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  Five insights on voice technology
  • sorangutan  

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  Over the last couple years something interesting happened—millions of people began having conversations with their speakers, cars, computers and phones. Voice technology is fundamentally changing the way we use we our devices, often in ways we didn’t expect. 

  We’ve learned a lot about how we can better serve people’s needs with voice, helping them save time and get things done. Here are a few things we’ve learned since we introduced the Google Assistant nearly two years ago.

  Voice is about action.

  When people talk to their Google Assistant, they’re usually trying to get something done. Assistant queries are 40 times more likely to be action-oriented than Search, with people asking for things like “send a text message,” “turn off the lights,” or “turn on airplane mode.”

  
  

  Why do we think this is happening? For many tasks, particularly while you’re on the go, it can be much easier to get things done through voice. I can say “turn on the lights and play some music,” without having to worry about which app I need to open. Even for basic things like creating a calendar invite, I don’t have to look down at my phone or interrupt what I’m doing, I can just say “create an appointment for noon on Saturday.” These seem like small things, and they are. But they illustrate what makes voice so unique—the technology allows me to complete a task in a way that feels natural. The more we can build these types of experiences, the closer we get to an ideal Assistant.

  People expect conversations.

  When people start using voice assistants, we often see very simple commands. But very quickly, expectations go up in terms of complex dialogue. We might see “weather Chicago” typed in Search, whereas with the Assistant we see much longer and more conversational queries like “what’s the weather today in Chicago at 3pm.” On average, Assistant queries are 200 times more conversational than Search.

  We’ve seen that even simple commands can take all forms. For example, people ask the Google Assistant to set an alarm in more than 5,000 different ways, which means that we have to build the Assistant to understand this conversational complexity.  

  

  Screens change everything.

  The world hasn’t completely shifted to voice, nor do we expect it to. Screens bring a completely new canvas for conversational AI, where we can bring together voice and touch in an intelligent way. So when you ask for a pasta dough recipe, you can get visuals of what the dough should look like while the Assistant reads you the steps along the way.  

  With the launch of Smart Displays and our new visual experience for phones, we’ve evolved the Google Assistant to become much more dynamic, spanning voice, screens, tapping and typing. And we’re seeing people respond—in fact, nearly half of interactions with Assistant today include both voice and touch input.

  Daily routines matter.

  You can access the Assistant almost anywhere you are throughout the day—on the phone, in the car, or on a speaker in the living room. So it makes sense that when people use the Assistant, it’s largely driven by their environment and what they’re trying to accomplish in their daily routines.

  Let’s take a look at some of the most popular ways we use the Google Assistant in our daily routines. In the morning, we’ll use our smart speakers to ask for the weather or listen to the news. During lunch and on the commute home, we’ll text and call our friends, or look for local restaurants. When we get home, we want to listen to music. And at the end of the day, we get ready for tomorrow with tasks like “set an alarm,” “set a reminder,” or “ask the Assistant to tell me about tomorrow’s meetings.” Where and how we use our Assistant varies throughout the day, but the consistency of the experience should stay the same.

  

  Voice is universal.

  One of the most exciting things to witness about digital assistants is that even though the Assistant is a  new technology, it’s incredibly easy to adopt. There’s no user manual needed, and people of all ages, across all types of devices, and in many different geographies can use the Assistant. Because of this, we’re finding that Google Assistant users defy the early adopter stereotype—there’s a huge uptick in seniors and families, and women are the fastest growing user segment for the Assistant.

  Voice is also universal on a global scale. Over the past year, we've brought the Assistant to more countries and languages. In places where people are coming online for the first time—like India, where Google Assistant usage has tripled in India since the beginning of the year—voice is taking the forefront as the primary way they interact with their devices. For example, Google Assistant usage has tripled in India since the beginning of the year.

  Of course voice technology is still relatively new and evolving. We’re just figuring out what works in this space. But it’s exciting to see how voice technology is making it easier for people to get things done, and we’re all learning together.

  
  

  
  
  https://www.blog.google/perspectives/scott-huffman/five-insights-voice-technology/
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  Selling inventory is easier with Google Ad Manager
  • sorangutan  

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  The digital landscape is evolving, and savvy publishers are evolving with it. There are more opportunities than ever for advertisers to reach their desired audience, no matter what platform, channel, or device consumers are using.

  
  That’s why we launched Google Ad Manager—to help you grow revenue wherever people are watching TV, playing mobile games, noodling around on their desktops, or engaging on social media. Here are a few ways you can use Ad Manager to get the most out of your ad inventory.
  

  Tailor your inventory to meet advertisers’ goals

  Start by taking control of your inventory. Ad Manager lets you segment inventory in multiple ways, so you can meet demand for ads that reach specific audiences. For example:
  

  Key-values: You can get even more granular by using key-values, such as a specific search keyword, to provide the exact audiences advertisers want to reach.

  • Audience: Organize according to users’ behavior on your sites or apps (first-party segments) or integrate data from outside vendors (third-party segments).
    
  • Devices and browsers: Organize inventory according to device type, browser, or operating system. You can even use browser language. Want to reach only Spanish-speaking Safari users? No hay problema.
    
  • Geography: Segment your inventory based on countries, regions, U.S. metro areas, U.K. TV regions, cities, and postal codes. You can also specify places to exclude. Think globally, advertise locally.
    
  • Delivery: Use Ad Manager’s delivery tools to see which ads in your inventory delivered on your page and why, then manage delivery speed, frequency caps, and day and time segmenting (dayparting) to maximize their ROI. Be surgical and precise.
    

  

  Five ways to sell your inventory on Ad Manager

  Regardless of how you work with buyers and advertisers, Ad Manager can help you get the most out of your inventory. So once you’ve optimized your inventory, Ad Manager can help you sell it in a variety of different ways:
  

  1. Direct sales. Your in-house team can directly negotiate high-priority ads, such as sponsorships, full-page takeovers, and custom creative integrations. Or, you can create valuable “share-of-voice” ads that give advertisers a certain share of the page views on your site.
     
  2. Programmatic Guaranteed. Ad Manager’s programmatic features allow you to automate negotiation and sales of your inventory, simplifying the process and reducing the potential for human error. Programmatic Guaranteed campaigns allow you and the buyer to agree on a price and terms for premium inventory ensuring you reserve your best inventory for your highest value advertisers. By offering advanced capabilities for buyers, including global frequency management and the ability to use their own audience lists, Programmatic Guaranteed brings new value to your direct sales business.
     
  3. Exchange Bidding. Invite trusted third-party exchanges to engage in a unified real-time auction. By allowing multiple exchanges to compete with each other, publishers can make more money for their inventory, while maintaining some control over ad quality.
     
  4. Open Auction. Let Ad Manager automatically select the highest paying ads that match your business rules from all advertisers bidding in the Open Auction.  In other words, Ad Manager will help you find ads in the open auction, that can help you earn the most revenue.
     
  5. Private marketplaces. These include both Private Auctions and Preferred Deals. A Private Auction gives a select group of buyers access to inventory before it becomes available in the open auction. Preferred Deals bypass auctions completely, with the publisher cutting a deal at a fixed price with one specific buyer. Both options give high-value remarketing buyers access to more inventory.
     

  Integrate your ad management to capture revenue across all buyers

  No matter how you sell your inventory, Ad Manager’s rules-based management system automatically synchronizes advertiser blocks across all your deals and inventory, artfully steering clear of any conflicts. It’s a comprehensive ad sales platform that helps organize your inventory and optimize your connections to customers. By allowing you to connect all your inventory to all your advertising partners in one place, you can earn more and grow your business.

  
  
  https://www.blog.google/products/admanager/selling-inventory-easier-google-ad-manager/
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  Between two interns: the scoop on a summer at Google
  • sorangutan  

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  Editor’s note: Riley Shanahan is computer science major at UC Berkeley, an explorer of the world's hiking trails, and a trailblazer for other young women delving into the unfamiliar terrain of STEM. She and I both had internships at Google’s headquarters in Mountain View this summer—I was a part of the BOLD internship program, and Riley was an Engineering Practicum intern. I recently tagged along on one of Riley’s days to learn more about what she was up to all summer. 
  

  

  👋Riley!

  Zoe: What have you been working on this summer?
  Riley: I helped improve visualization tools for Earth Engine users (scientists, researchers, journalists, and people who just generally use Google products).

  My main project was a GIF creation tool that lets you view the entirety of a data set at one time, like a timelapse. The motivation behind this project was to empower Earth Engine users to stay on the platform without using third party encoding libraries to create animations themselves.

  These GIFs can be integrated within any presentation, which is a serious use case, so that journalists and scientists can present their research and findings to policy makers and show in an animated and effective way why their research matters.
  

  What has been your favorite part of working at Google?
  My team—they’ve empowered me to make a difference and grow as an engineer and person. I know how important it is to work on something I’m passionate about, but I’ve found that I’m most energized to contribute when I’m on a team with psychological safety, support and drive. Everyone on the team worked to build each other up, rather than leaving anyone to build something alone.

  

  Here's an example of an Earth Timelapse animation that Riley worked on this summer—it shows the Ucayali River and the city of Pucallpa, Peru in the Amazonian Rainforest. 

  How did you find your path to computer science?
  I did Girls Who Code after my sophomore year of high school. My chemistry teacher recommended I apply for the program because I loved science and math so much. It was a pivotal point in my life. I discovered that the opportunities to help people through engineering were endless, and I could make the most impact while having fun doing computer science.

  How have you used the joy you get from CS to make an impact?
  The summer after Girls Who Code, I applied for and received a grant to teach a summer computer science program to 50 middle school students from underserved schools in the East Palo Alto/Redwood City area. I got about 25 laptops donated, and I built a curriculum centered around game design, where every student would end each week with a tangible product to show their accomplishments and development. Based on my own Girls Who Code experience, I knew that building toward a final project gives you confidence, ownership, and a sense of accomplishment.

  I worked with several female engineers at Google to plan a field trip for all of my computer science students during their last week to visit the Mountain View campus. Seeing how much they cared about my students and the success of my program reaffirmed my dream of going back to Google, not on a field trip or as a guest, but as an intern or engineer.

  

  Riley and her podmate Jessica (all hail peer mentorship)

  What would you say to other young women who are hoping to get into computer science?
  Make peer mentorship a priority. It’s important to look at older female engineers or people in STEM careers as role models, but there’s nothing like creating a network of women who are in your shoes and understand how you’re feeling. 

  More than just support, I have found that by making friends and developing support systems with other college students in tech, there is a mutual exchange of resources and sharing opportunities. Oh, and don’t compare yourself to other people around you—just jump in!
  

  After spending a summer at Google, what does "Googleyness" mean to you?
  Openness. Every person I reached out to this summer was so excited to talk to me and share their work. Other than really secret stuff, the majority of the company is very open and they really treat their interns as part of the family. At the beginning of the summer, I was nervous about wasting engineers’ time by asking them technical questions about challenges and obstacles I faced. I quickly learned that they genuinely wanted to help me and see my project succeed.

  Looking back on your internship, is there one moment or memory that sticks out?
  100%, Google’s Women Engineer conference (held every summer for female engineering interns). It was magical. I never anticipated that Google would make such a significant contribution to both my personal and career growth. I met so many fellow interns and full-time female mentors at the conference, I had never felt more part of a family.

  

  Virtual visit to Yosemite 

  What’s your favorite spot on Google’s campus?
  There’s an awesome three-screen TV on the first floor of my building that allows you to go anywhere using Google Earth. I love playing around with it and virtually visiting Half Dome in Yosemite— I love to hike, and I’ve always wondered what it’s like up there.

  What’s next for you?
  Well in the short term, I am heading back to UC Berkeley for my junior year. I’m also hoping to return to Google next summer as a software engineering intern, and I would love to intern abroad in one of Google’s offices in Zurich or Dublin. There are so many classes at Berkeley that I am dying to take and I am double majoring, which means I can’t study abroad as an undergrad. Interning abroad sort of gives me the best of both worlds.

  Final question: describe your internship in one word.
  Earthy 🌎

  
  

  
  
  https://www.blog.google/inside-google/working-google/between-two-interns-scoop-summer-google/
• 

  Google Images data in Google Analytics
  • sorangutan  

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  A few weeks ago we told you a change is coming to Google Images referral URLs, and that this would have an impact on how this data is surfaced in Google Analytics. Here's more detail on those changes and how you'll be able to use the new level of granularity to improve your marketing efforts.

  Previously, all traffic coming from a Google Images search result would be grouped together under ‘google / organic’ in the Acquisition reports in Google Analytics. Soon, when the Google Images team makes their changes to the referral source URL, there will be a new Source line item for image search reflected in Google Analytics which will display as ‘google images’ in the Source report and ‘google images / organic’ in the Source / Medium report within Analytics.

  

  You'll still see a line item for images.google.com in the 'Referral' report within Google Analytics. The referral report will continue to show these, and all other sources, as referrals.

  

  This is a change in the way we're processing and reporting this data and will happen automatically for all accounts. If you don't have any filters or custom channel groupings set up based on Google Organic Source or Medium, then no changes are needed and you can continue to report on the data within the Channel, Source and Source / Medium reports as is.

  If you do have special filters, custom channel groupings, or reports based on this data, then you will want to make updates as needed to capture the new Source parameter in your custom settings.

  Note that when this change launches, you may see a drop in data perceived to be coming from ‘google,’ since it will be reclassified as coming from ‘google images.’ In some cases, you may see an increase in organic traffic as we reclassify some traffic previously classified as ‘referral’ to ‘organic.’ These changes should all balance out and you shouldn't expect an overall drop or increase in total traffic.

  Why are we making this update?

  We’ve long heard from analysts and webmasters that they want more granularity in their analytics data to help them understand the value of Google Images. With the addition of the ‘google images’ source, you'll soon be able to do just that.

  Within your regular analytics reporting, you’ll be able to compare total Google Organic traffic to that of Google Images traffic via any of the acquisition reports, or add more detail to other reports by adding a secondary dimension of Source. These insights could help you determine when and where to allocate your marketing dollars or business resources when it comes to advertising and site optimization.

  The ability to segment audiences based on Google Images versus overall Google Search can help you determine which pieces of content are most valuable, allow you to create audiences specific to image search, and use those audiences across the Google Marketing Platform.

  Together, we hope these updates give you a new level of understanding of the traffic coming to your site through Google Images.

  
  
  https://www.blog.google/products/marketingplatform/analytics/google-images-data-google-analytics/
• 

  Hey Google, tell me something good
  google assistant google news initiative • • sorangutan  

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  The news has always played an essential role in our lives, keeping us informed about the world and the issues we care about. These days we’re consuming more news than ever, and sometimes, it can feel like there are only problems out there. But the fact is, there is a plethora of “good news” happening, and we're not talking about unlikely animal friendships or random acts of kindness. Real people are making progress solving real issues—and hearing about those stories is a crucial part of a balanced media diet.

  The Assistant is making this kind of news easier to find.
  

  “Tell me something good” is a new experimental feature for Assistant users in the U.S.  that delivers your daily dose of good news. Just say “Hey Google, tell me something good” to receive a brief news summary about people who are solving problems for our communities and our world.
  

  This is good news like how Georgia State University coupled empathy with data to double its graduation rate and eliminate achievement gaps between white and black students, how backyard beekeepers in East Detroit are bringing back the dwindling bee population while boosting the local economy, and how Iceland curbed teen drinking with nightly curfews and coupons for kids to enroll in extracurricular activities.
  

  

  Watch to learn more about "Tell me something good"

  The stories come from a wide range of media outlets, curated and summarized by the Solutions Journalism Network. They’re a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to spreading the practice of solutions journalism, which highlights how problems are solvable and that doing better is possible. Solutions journalism empowers and energizes audiences, helping to combat negative news fatigue. It’s an important part of a balanced news diet, so we’re exploring how to incorporate more solutions journalism wherever you access Google News.

  “Tell me something good” isn’t meant to be a magic solution. But it’s an experiment worth trying because it’s good info about good work that may bring some good to your day. Give it a go yourself on any Assistant-enabled device, including your phone, Smart Display, or Google Home.
  

  
  
  https://www.blog.google/products/assistant/hey-google-tell-me-something-good/
• 

  Introducing the new Google Fit
  android wear os by google • • sorangutan  

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  There’s a lot of talk out there about how to stay active and healthy: “get your steps in,” “sitting is the new smoking,” “no pain, no gain.” It can feel overwhelming. So we’ve worked with the American Heart Association (AHA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to understand the science behind physical activity and help you get the amount and intensity needed to improve your health.

  Activity goals to improve your health

  The new Google Fit is centered around two simple and smart activity goals based on AHA and WHO’s activity recommendations shown to impact health: Move Minutes and Heart Points.

  When it comes to your health, it’s important to move more and sit less. Earn Move Minutes for all of your activity and get motivated to make small, healthy changes throughout your day, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or catching up with a friend over a walk instead of a coffee.

  Activities that get your heart pumping harder result in even greater health benefits. Heart Points give you credit for these activities. You’ll score one point for each minute of moderate activity, like picking up the pace while walking your dog, and double points for more intense activities like running or kickboxing. It takes just 30 minutes of brisk walking 5 days a week to reach the AHA and WHO’s recommended amount of physical activity, which is shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, improve sleep, and increase overall mental well-being.

  However you move, make it count

  When you’re walking, running or biking throughout the day, Google Fit will automatically detect these activities using your phone or watch sensors—like the accelerometer and GPS—to estimate the number of Heart Points you earn. If you’re into a different type of exercise, you can choose other activities like gardening, pilates, rowing or spinning, and Google Fit will calculate the Heart Points and Move Minutes achieved during your workout. Google Fit also integrates with other fitness apps like Strava, Runkeeper, Endomondo and MyFitnessPal, so you get credit for every Move Minute and Heart Point you earn. You’ll get tips and help to adjust your goals over time based on your activity. Your journal will show your activities, achievements and goal progress across all of your apps.

  If you already use Google Fit on Android phone or Wear OS by Google watch, you’ll see these changes on your phone or smartwatch beginning this week. If you’re new to Google Fit, learn more at google.com/fit and join us on our way to a healthier and more active life. 

  
  
  https://www.blog.google/products/android/introducing-new-google-fit/
• 

  The High Five: Put some R-E-S-P-E-C-T on it
  trends high five • • sorangutan  

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  Daydreaming and I’m thinking of Trends. This week, with a little help from the Google News Lab we honor the Queen of Soul, celebrate birthdays, shine some light on the left-handed among us and much more. Here’s a look at this week’s top trends.

  Paying respect to a legend

  On Thursday, we said goodbye to Aretha “Queen of Soul” Franklin who lost her battle with pancreatic cancer at 76. This musical legend gave the world iconic hits like “Respect,” “Natural Woman,” “Think,” “I Say A Little Prayer,” and “Chain of Fools,” all of which came in as the most-searched Aretha Franklin songs this week. She never shied away from the opportunity to flaunt her dramatic furs and show-stopping hats, all while reaching octaves and bravados that could make anyone drown in their own tears. Celebrities, world leaders and fans alike took time to pay their respects with folks in D.C., Michigan, Maryland, Georgia and Mississippi continuing to Rock Steady and search for details on the Queen of Soul. May we forever ride the midnight train of soul and take a drive down the Freeway of Love because that’s what Aretha would want us to do.

  Dodging traffic in Los Angeles

  Traffic is a way of life in Los Angeles and Elon Musk’s Boring Company is looking to make life a little bit easier, at least if you’re going to Dodger Stadium. The company is proposing a 3.6-mile underground tunnel in an effort to curb congestion on L.A. roads and people are intrigued. So much so that search interest in “boring company tunnel” spiked more than 60 percent over the past week in the U.S. Some people had tunnel vision, also searching for the North River Tunnels, Twin Peaks tunnel and Hezekiah’s Tunnel.

  Sixty going on thirty

  Madonna and Angela Bassett celebrated their sixtieth birthdays this week and people were in utter disbelief. Questions like “How old was Madonna when she had her daughter?” and “How does Angela Bassett stay looking so young?” were trending, as the mystery behind their fountain of youth glow remains unsolved. Washington D.C. was one of the top regions searching for both Madonna and Angela Bassett and the top search question on turning 60 was “What to say to someone turning 60?” Uhhh … Happy Birthday?  

  Righty tighty, lefty loosey

  Left-handers day was this past Monday and to celebrate, Oreo created a special left handers package and even sent a free package of cookies to all the residents of Left Hand, West Virginia. Lefties and righties alike took to Search to find out, “What percentage of people are left handed,” “Is there a left handers day club,” and “Is LeBron James left handed.” They also wanted to know if there were products and perks made especially for lefties such as “Best pens for lefties” and “Scholarships for lefties.” Looks like this week was the right week to be a left-handed.

  Representation matters

  Crazy Rich Asians, the first major studio production in 25 years to star an all-Asian cast, opened in theaters this week and is on track to net $30 million dollars by the end of the weekend. The top five states searching for the film include D.C., California, Hawaii, New York and Washington, and people searching for Crazy Rich Asians also searched for Geetha Govindam, Mile 22, and BlacKkKlansman over the past week in the U.S. Double-feature weekend at the theater anyone?

  
  
  https://www.blog.google/high-five/high-five-put-some-r-e-s-p-e-c-t-it/
• 

  Safety-first AI for autonomous data center cooling and industrial control
  environment data centers & infrastruc • • sorangutan  

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  Many of society’s most pressing problems have grown increasingly complex, so the search for solutions can feel overwhelming. At DeepMind and Google, we believe that if we can use AI as a tool to discover new knowledge, solutions will be easier to reach.

  In 2016, we jointly developed an AI-powered recommendation system to improve the energy efficiency of Google’s already highly-optimized data centers. Our thinking was simple: Even minor improvements would provide significant energy savings and reduce CO2 emissions to help combat climate change.

  Now we’re taking this system to the next level: instead of human-implemented recommendations, our AI system is directly controlling data center cooling, while remaining under the expert supervision of our data center operators. This first-of-its-kind cloud-based control system is now safely delivering energy savings in multiple Google data centers.

  How it works

  Every five minutes, our cloud-based AI pulls a snapshot of the data center cooling system from thousands of sensors and feeds it into our deep neural networks, which predict how different combinations of potential actions will affect future energy consumption. The AI system then identifies which actions will minimize the energy consumption while satisfying a robust set of safety constraints. Those actions are sent back to the data center, where the actions are verified by the local control system and then implemented.

  • DME_DCIQ_v09-01.jpg
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  The idea evolved out of feedback from our data center operators who had been using our AI recommendation system. They told us that although the system had taught them some new best practices—such as spreading the cooling load across more, rather than less, equipment—implementing the recommendations required too much operator effort and supervision. Naturally, they wanted to know whether we could achieve similar energy savings without manual implementation.

  
  

  We’re pleased to say the answer was yes!

  We wanted to achieve energy savings with less operator overhead. Automating the system enabled us to implement more granular actions at greater frequency, while making fewer mistakes. Dan Fuenffinger
  Data Center Operator, Google

  Designed for safety and reliability

  Google's data centers contain thousands of servers that power popular services including Google Search, Gmail and YouTube. Ensuring that they run reliably and efficiently is mission-critical. We've designed our AI agents and the underlying control infrastructure from the ground up with safety and reliability in mind, and use eight different mechanisms to ensure the system will behave as intended at all times.

  One simple method we’ve implemented is to estimate uncertainty. For every potential action—and there are billions—our AI agent calculates its confidence that this is a good action. Actions with low confidence are eliminated from consideration.

  Another method is two-layer verification. Optimal actions computed by the AI are vetted against an internal list of safety constraints defined by our data center operators. Once the instructions are sent from the cloud to the physical data center, the local control system verifies the instructions against its own set of constraints. This redundant check ensures that the system remains within local constraints and operators retain full control of the operating boundaries.

  Most importantly, our data center operators are always in control and can choose to exit AI control mode at any time. In these scenarios, the control system will transfer seamlessly from AI control to the on-site rules and heuristics that define the automation industry today.

  Find out about the other safety mechanisms we’ve developed below:

  

  Increasing energy savings over time

  Whereas our original recommendation system had operators vetting and implementing actions, our new AI control system directly implements the actions. We’ve purposefully constrained the system’s optimization boundaries to a narrower operating regime to prioritize safety and reliability, meaning there is a risk/reward trade off in terms of energy reductions.

  Despite being in place for only a matter of months, the system is already delivering consistent energy savings of around 30 percent on average, with further expected improvements. That’s because these systems get better over time with more data, as the graph below demonstrates. Our optimization boundaries will also be expanded as the technology matures, for even greater reductions.

  

  This graph plots AI performance over time relative to the historical baseline before AI control. Performance is measured by a common industry metric for cooling energy efficiency, kW/ton (or energy input per ton of cooling achieved). Over nine months, our AI control system performance increases from a 12 percent improvement (the initial launch of autonomous control) to around a 30 percent improvement.

  Our direct AI control system is finding yet more novel ways to manage cooling that have surprised even the data center operators. Dan Fuenffinger, one of Google’s data center operators who has worked extensively alongside the system, remarked: "It was amazing to see the AI learn to take advantage of winter conditions and produce colder than normal water, which reduces the energy required for cooling within the data center. Rules don’t get better over time, but AI does."

  We’re excited that our direct AI control system is operating safely and dependably, while consistently delivering energy savings. However, data centers are just the beginning. In the long term, we think there's potential to apply this technology in other industrial settings, and help tackle climate change on an even grander scale.
  

  
  
  https://www.blog.google/inside-google/infrastructure/safety-first-ai-autonomous-data-center-cooling-and-industrial-control/
• 

  Simplifying Data Studio embeds and social sharing
  analytics data studio • • sorangutan  

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  Today we are introducing two new features to make sharing your Data Studio visualizations easier, including enhanced support for embedding your reports across the web, and rich snippets of your reports when you share them on social networks.

  Embed with Embed.ly

  Data Studio now supports embedding interactive reports on Medium, Reddit and hundreds of other sites that use Embed.ly. To embed your report, simply paste the report URL in your article. Simply embed your report and it will sync in real time, making it possible for you to distribute your interactive reports. Learn more.

  Here are some examples of embedded reports:

  

  Medium article showing Stack Overflow trends. Link

  

  Reddit post showing real time departures for BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit). Link

  Share rich snippets on social
  

  When you share your report link on social platforms or messaging apps, you will now see a rich snippet including the title, thumbnail and description of the report. Your audience will know what to expect from the link and have better visibility to your reports. Rich snippets also help make your content more searchable on social networks.

  To generate rich snippets, post the report URL you intend to share.

  Here's an example of a rich snippet:

  

  Rich snippets work on any social platform or messaging app that supports Open Graph Protocol including Google+, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Reddit and apps like Hangouts, iMessage and Slack.

  
  
  https://www.blog.google/products/marketingplatform/analytics/simplifying-data-studio-embeds-and-social-sharing/
• 

  Helping you find useful information fast on Search
  • sorangutan  

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  Imagine you’re remodeling your kitchen, and you want information about how quartz compares to granite for your new countertops. Sure, Google can tell you what quartz and granite are, but that’s perhaps not what you had in mind. Chances are you’re hoping to learn more about the differences in cost, benefits, and durability of each, and may be looking for guidance on other subtopics to explore.

  
  

  For these types of queries, we’re introducing a new way to get you to relevant information fast and help you get a glimpse of multiple aspects of a topic with a single search.

  
  

  

  Now when you search for something like [quartz vs. granite], you’ll see a panel with a set of relevant subtopics to explore. As another example, when you search [emergency fund], you'll get a quick view of information that relates to the recommended size, purpose, and importance of an emergency fund, and you can easily click the links to these relevant sources to learn more. This new format is meant to help guide you with what we understand to be common, useful aspects of the topic and help you sift through the information available, all with the goal of delivering the most relevant results for you.

  
  

  These new panels are automatically generated based on our understanding of these topics from content on the web, and we hope you find them useful as they roll out over the next few days.

  
  This update is the latest in a series of improvements we’ve been making to help you get information quickly with Search. As always, if you have any feedback on the information you see, please let us know via the feedback link at the bottom of the search results page. To learn more about how these types of features work, check out our post on featured snippets.
  
  https://www.blog.google/products/search/helping-you-find-useful-information-fast-search/
• 

  Announcing the 10 startups that will take the stage at Demo Day Asia
  google in asia entrepreneurs • • sorangutan  

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  After our open call for startups to apply and pitch to top global investors at Demo Day Asia—taking place this September in Shanghai—we received hundreds of submissions. They came from founders from every corner of Asia-Pacific, across industries as diverse as agriculture, entertainment, and healthcare.

  
  

  While difficult to narrow down this impressive field, after painstaking deliberation, the results are finally in. Out of 305 qualifying applications, the 10 finalists that will take the final stage at Demo Day Asia are... (drum-roll!):

  
  

  • DycodeX from Indonesia develops Internet of Things solutions for livestock farming

  • FreightExchange from Australia is an online platform for freight carriers to sell their unused space to shippers.

  • GITAI from Japan specializes in building robots that can help humans conduct scientific experiments in space.

  • Marham from Pakistan is a healthcare platform that helps people search, book appointments, and consult with doctors online.

  • Miotech from China is a fintech startup developing artificial intelligence-based software for financial services firms.

  • OneStockHome from Thailand offers an e-commerce platform for construction materials.

  • Origami Labs from Hong Kong makes smart rings that allow people to hear and send text messages without taking out their phones.

  • SigTuple from India creates AI-based solutions to automate healthcare screening.

  • SkyMagic from Singapore produces drone swarming technology for live entertainment and traffic management systems.

  • Swingvy from Korea provides human resources solutions for businesses.

  • Gitai Demo Day Asia

    GITAI from Japan builds robots that help humans conduct scientific experiments in space.

  • skymagic demodayasia

    SkyMagic from Singapore works on drone technology for live entertainment and traffic management systems.

  • Freight exchange demo day asia

    FreightExchange from Australia connects Australian shippers and carriers with their online platform.

  • origamilabs DemoDayAsia

    Origami Labs from Hong Kong produces smart rings that let people hear and send text messages without taking out their phones.

  We’re proud that several of these companies belong to organisations that are a part of the Google for Entrepreneurs partner network, a community of over 35 member spaces globally and programs supporting startups. They include startups from Kibar in Indonesia, Fishburners in Australia, Hubba in Thailand, and Found in Singapore.

  
  

  Congratulations to these outstanding startups and their founders! They will pitch to a distinguished panel of leaders from Google for Entrepreneurs, Sequoia Capital China, and Venturra Capital on September 20th in Shanghai. The startups that impress could come home with funding from investors and up to $100,000 in Google Cloud Platform credits. Most importantly, we hope these incredible startups blaze a path forward for other founders and continue to improve the lives of others with their innovative products. Good luck in Shanghai!

  
  
  https://www.blog.google/around-the-globe/google-asia/demodayasia-finalists/
• 

  Upgrading your paid storage with Google One
  google one photos • • sorangutan  

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  Since introducing Google Photos, we’ve aspired to be the home for all of your photos, helping you bring together a lifetime of memories in one place.

  
  

  We offer two options to back up your photos and videos: original quality and high quality. Starting today in the U.S., those of you who back up in original quality and pay for expanded storage will be upgraded to Google One. For the same price or in some cases less, you’ll now have extra space and additional benefits—like 24/7 support from Google experts—to help you get more out of Google. There are no changes to our high quality backup option.

   

  Check out what backup plan you’re currently using and, if you’d like to upgrade to Google One, visit the Google One website. Google One is rolling out to more countries over the next few weeks.
  
  https://www.blog.google/products/photos/upgrading-your-paid-storage-google-one/
• 

  Introducing a new transparency report for political ads
  public policy ads • • sorangutan  

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  We first launched our Transparency Report in 2010 with the goal of fostering important conversations about the relationship between governments, companies, and the free flow of information on the internet.

  Over the years, we’ve evolved the report, adding sections about content removed from Google Search due to European privacy laws, adoption of encryption on websites (HTTPS), and more. And today, we’re adding another new section to our Transparency Report: Political Advertising on Google.

  Earlier this year, we took important steps to increase transparency in political advertising. We implemented new requirements for any advertiser purchasing election ads on Google in the U.S.—these advertisers now have to provide a government-issued ID and other key information that confirms they are a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, as required by law. We also required that election ads incorporate a clear “paid for by” disclosure. Now, we’re continuing to roll out new transparency features with the addition of the political advertising report as well as a new political Ad Library.
  

  

  The new political advertising section in our Transparency Report shows how much money is spent across states and congressional districts

  The new political advertising report shows who buys federal election ads in the U.S., how much money is spent across states and congressional districts on such ads, and who the top advertisers are overall. We designed this report for anyone interested in transparency—the information is searchable and downloadable, so that you can easily access and sort through the data. We’re updating the report every week, so as we head into election season, anyone can see new ads that get uploaded or new advertisers that decide to run Google ads.
  

  

  The new political advertising section in our Transparency Report

  Meanwhile, our new, searchable election Ad Library shows things like which ads had the highest views, what the latest election ads running on our platform are, and deep dives into specific advertisers’ campaigns. In addition, the data from the report and Ad Library is publicly available on Google Cloud’s BigQuery. Using BigQuery’s API, anyone can write code and run their own unique queries on this data set. Researchers, political watchdog groups and private citizens can use our data set to develop charts, graphs, tables or other visualizations of political advertising on Google Ads services. Together with the Transparency Report, we hope this provides unprecedented, data-driven insights into election ads on our platform.

  Even though the political advertising report and Ad Library provide many new insights, we know there is more work to be done. We’re working with experts in the U.S. and around the world to explore tools that capture a wider range of political ads—including ads about political issues (beyond just candidate ads), state and local election ads, and political ads in other countries. We’re also continuing to share our Protect Your Election tools to safeguard campaigns from digital attacks. As we approach the 2018 midterm elections in the U.S, we’ve introduced new tools to help protect political campaigns, provide voters with accurate information, and increase transparency on our platforms, and we’ll continue to do more.

  
  
  https://www.blog.google/technology/ads/introducing-new-transparency-report-political-ads/
• 

  Search, Trends and fact checking during the Mexican elections
  google news initiative trends • • sorangutan  

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  On July 1, more than 88 million Mexican citizens voted for over 16,000 candidates in the largest election in Mexican history. In the lead up to the Mexican national elections, we aimed to help people navigate election information.

  
  

  In Search, we made it easier for people to find information about the democratic process: our search results helped find their local polling, in partnership with the National Electoral Institute (INE).

  
  

  We also made it easier for people to explore the data around Google searches for candidates and key elections issues. The Google Trends team created the Election Trends Hub and partnered with news organizations like Animal Politico, to create election visualizations that helped synthesize and contextualize what people were searching in the lead up to the elections.

  

  As part of the Google News Initiaitive’s efforts to empower news organizations with technology, we supportedVerificado 2018 a joint effort across over 90 news organizations and NGOs to fact check claims and prevent the spread of misinformation. To assist with the fact checking efforts, over the past year we’ve trained over 1000 journalists across Mexico on  Google verification tools, such as reverse image Search. In three and a half months leading up to the election, the Verificado coalition identified over 180 false stories and reached more than 1.3 million people on their website and social media channels.

  

  Reporters who participated in Verificado 2018

  With presidential elections in Costa Rica, Colombia, Mexico and Brazil, 2018 is an important year for politics in Latin America. As voters across the world prepare to vote, we’re building tools and partnerships helps users engage more seamlessly in their democratic processes.

  You can learn more about our work at google.com/elections and about the Google News Initiative’s work to support the news industry to fight misinformation atg.co/newsinitiative.

  
  

  
  
  https://www.blog.google/outreach-initiatives/google-news-initiative/search-trends-and-fact-checking-during-mexican-elections/