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Register for Google Marketing Live: May 24, 2022
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It’s almost time for Google Marketing Live, our annual event showcasing the latest product innovations to help your business thrive. This year’s virtual event will take place on Tuesday, May 24 — starting with a keynote from 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. PT that will be livestreamed across the globe.
After the keynote, you’ll be able to join a variety of on-demand breakout sessions designed to help you meet your business goals. Here’s a sample of what’s in store:
- Supercharge your full funnel video strategy on YouTube
- Be ready for the future of commerce
- Achieve better business results today with measurement that prioritizes privacy
And here’s a sneak peek into our speaker lineup:
Register now to reserve your (virtual) front-row seat. And keep up with the conversation on social media at #GML2022. See you on May 24th!

https://blog.google/products/ads-commerce/register-gml2022/
How one summer program led Randy to working at Google
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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 Randy Raymond, a software engineer on the Google Docs team. Randy’s path to Google started with our Computer Science Summer Institute (CSSI) — (which is now accepting applications until April 29, 2022 at 11:59PM ET).
What’s your role at Google?
I’m a software engineer on the Google Docs team, where I spend most of my days improving the ability to convert different document formats into Google Docs (and vice versa). I also build new Google Doc features — I just finished up a project to “pin” the top row of a table so it repeats on every page. I've used this feature in my own documents and it's really rewarding to know I had a hand in developing it. Outside of that, I write design docs, lines of code and tests to make sure that my code is working properly.
How did you first get interested in software engineering?
Growing up, my brother and I discovered a computer program that let us create our own video games. My brother managed the plot, and I was in charge of programming. It fascinated me that lines of text could bring a game to life. In my 11-year old mind, it was nothing short of magic. Before I knew it, I was picking up books at my local library to learn different programming languages. I started participating in online communities, publishing tutorials on how to code and bringing people together to build interesting games. It wasn’t just the technology that inspired me, but the people I shared it with.
What was your path to your current role?
In my senior year of high school, I applied and got accepted to Google’s CSSI program. During those three weeks, we got a deep dive into introductory web development, learned the programming language Python, worked on our resumes and teamed up to create our own websites. CSSI gave me confidence, a professional network and lifelong friends.
Afterwards, I applied for the Google STEP (Student Training in Engineering Program) internship in Mountain View, California for first and second-year undergraduate students. As my first professional gig, that experience was definitely challenging — but thankfully, I had supportive teammates who helped me become a much better engineer. After a few other Google internships in Boston and Montreal, I started working for the Google Docs team full time.
What was it like interviewing for a full-time position at Google as an intern?
My only official interview was for the STEP internship. After that, my "interviews" were how well I did on each of my internship projects. I’ll never forget towards the end of my first internship, I accidentally deleted my entire project! Thankfully, I had backed it up so I could still submit it in time.
Are you still involved in CSSI?
Actually, it’s sort of a full-circle story. During the pandemic, I relocated to Miami and started working with the CSSI team to try and start a new CSSI cohort there. And we just found out it’s officially happening! South Florida is my home and I've always dreamed of a chance to bring more tech opportunities there. CSSI has the potential to change the lives of aspiring computer science students in the area — it certainly changed mine.
Any tips for future Googlers?
It's OK to ask questions. Googlers are more than willing to help and there is no such thing as a bad question. And if you don’t feel comfortable speaking up in a meeting at first, jot down a list of your questions and sit down with a trusted teammate to go through them.

https://blog.google/inside-google/life-at-google/how-one-summer-program-led-randy-working-google/
A space for connection in King's Cross
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Once at the heart of the industrial revolution, today London's King’s Cross is a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship. We’re proud to be part of this community, where thousands of Googlers work on products like Android and Google Business Profile that people around the world use.
We believe in the area’s future growth and potential, which is why it’s so exciting to see our newest development take shape. We’re partnering on our first ground-up development in EMEA with British designer Thomas Heatherwick and Bjarke Ingels Group. When finished, our new location will include more than one million square feet of office and ground-floor retail space, and it will be a resource not just for Googlers but Londoners, too. We want the spaces and experiences we offer to create opportunity for local people and businesses, and contribute to the culture of entrepreneurship and vibrancy of the area.
A space curated by — and for — the local community
One of the ways our ambition will come to life is via our office’s ground floor, which runs along King’s Boulevard. To ensure it meets the needs of our local area, we’re listening to residents’ and small businesses’ views and ideas through partnerships with organisations like Camden Giving, which works to end poverty and inequality in Camden, and local media startup Camdenist. We’ll continue this work to ensure the place we create is relevant and meaningful, and has a positive local impact, complementing our wider community outreach in the area.
A visualisation of King’s Boulevard featuring a mix of different shops and spaces
A mix of local makers and established and growing brands
We recently submitted plans for a redesigned ground-floor space that will include more than 250 metres of shop fronts and a flexible space for events and community use. Our ambition is to create a lively, welcoming boulevard that connects communities to an ecosystem of local makers, purpose-driven retailers, and public activities.
We plan to offer the shop units to a mix of established and growing brands, and provide support to help great ideas grow. Alongside the individual retail units, a market hall will offer a launchpad for small businesses, while a community, education and event space will host a changing programme of events all year round.
The new ground floor designs will create a more inviting, creative public space, with a series of playful tilting timber portals and varied shop fronts that each tenant can customise. The designs also incorporate more places for the public to come together — something we’ve heard is important to local residents.
Visualisation of the roof of our newest building in King’s Cross.
A sustainable and flexible workplace
We believe in the value of coming together in person to collaborate, which is why we’re continuing to invest in our offices around the world. As we transition to flexible, hybrid work, we’re introducing new workplace technologies and collaboration spaces to keep our teams connected wherever they’re working.
We’re also emphasising sustainability in all aspects of the building’s design as we work towards a carbon-free future. The kitchens and onsite equipment will be fully electric, which will allow us to track hourly energy usage and match this with local renewable energy. A system of 13,500 interconnected devices around the office will improve energy efficiency in real time, while solar shading will help regulate the building’s temperature by reducing glare from the sun. We’ve prioritised low-carbon, local materials in the construction and interior design to reduce the carbon impact of our building by 20%.
We’ll share the lessons we learn to help other businesses reduce their carbon impact too, building on our partnerships with Camden Clean Air, the Knowledge Quarter and other local groups.
As well as offering a quiet green space for breaks during the work day, a densely planted outdoor roof garden, with a rainwater irrigation system, will provide a habitat for protected species of bats and birds. We’re collaborating with the London Wildlife Trust and the borough of Camden as part of a wider initiative to protect our native species and improve local biodiversity.
How Google supports the local community today
We’re proud to partner with more than 60 grassroots charities across Camden, providing mentoring, skills training and funding to support their work. In the past two years we’ve provided virtual work experience for more than 200 students in Camden schools, and supported over a thousand local residents impacted by COVID with our Community Help Kit. We’ve built strong connections and gained incredible insights from these programmes which, together, bring the voice of local residents and businesses into our long-term plans.
Google’s community-led mentoring really had a profound effect on me and totally changed my approach to building the brand of Comic Mania. I honestly don't think I could have got better support even if I paid for it. Simone Haynes
Founder of ComicMania, a small NGO based in Camden
Our commitment to the U.K.
Our ongoing work on our King's Cross campus along with our $1 billion investment in our London Central Saint Giles office demonstrates our long-term commitment to the U.K. We‘ll keep working hard to ensure we play a meaningful role in the cities we call home.

https://blog.google/around-the-globe/google-europe/united-kingdom/kings-cross/
World Quantum Day: Meet our researchers and play The Qubit Game
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As a quantum engineer, I know how confusing quantum computing can sound. Qubits? Entanglement? Magic state distillation? I also know how much potential quantum computing has to help solve big problems, ranging from helping us understand the world better by simulating quantum systems, to broad industrial applications like more efficient energy production or designing medicines to cure diseases and solve major public health issues. If we’re going to solve those problems, we’re going to need a lot more help.
1. We need more students pursuing careers building or using quantum computers, and understanding what it would be like to be a quantum scientist or engineer.
2. We need experts in several fields (from quantum chemists to physicists to computer scientists) to help us understand how quantum computing might be applied to their work.
3. We need to help the broader public explore how quantum computing could transform their lives in a realistic way.
And for me, that’s what World Quantum Day is all about: showing everyone what quantum computing really is and how they can get involved.
The Qubit Game
In celebration of World Quantum Day, the Google Quantum AI team wanted to try a different way to introduce people to the world of quantum computing. So we teamed up with Doublespeak Games to make The Qubit Game – a playful journey to building a quantum computer, one qubit at a time, while solving challenges that quantum engineers face in their daily work. If you succeed, you’ll discover new upgrades for your in-game quantum computer, complete big research projects, and hopefully become a little more curious about how we’re building quantum computers.
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Bringing The Qubit Game to the classroom
Google Quantum AI is a partner in the National Q-12 Education Partnership, which was spearheaded by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to expand access to K-12 quantum learning tools and inspire the next generation of quantum leaders. The Qubit Game will be available as a beta listed with other resources on the partnership’s Quantime site, and will be available for classroom use. During this phase, we’re eager to hear from educators, particularly those in middle and high schools, who will be using it in their classroom activities!
Emily Edwards, who helps lead the partnership, is also excited to see more accessible resources released to the public. She adds, “Educators are key to the success of quantum education. It’s wonderful to see so many community partners, including Google Quantum AI, working with teachers to bring fun quantum activities and games online.”
Meet our researchers
It can be difficult to know where to start your quantum computing journey. Every path to a quantum computing career is different, and we want to celebrate this diversity for World Quantum Day by introducing you to some of our talented quantum mechanics and how they got started.
- Catherine Erickson is a quantum hardware engineer in our team working to calibrate and characterize our quantum systems. Meet Catherine!
- Marissa Giustina is a quantum scientist and engineer leading our device packaging team, and ensures that newly fabricated quantum chips are correctly wired for use. Meet Marissa!
Catherine and Marissa solve challenging problems on a daily basis to build quantum computers. We hope that their journeys will encourage many more to join the field!
Expanding access to quantum computing research
If The Qubit Game sparks your curiosity, we’re also releasing several resources to help make quantum research accessible to all and to keep you updated on our team’s own quantum journey:
1. Explore an immersive guide that explains our quantum computing effort and highlights the components of a quantum computer.
2. Get a glimpse of what we think the future looks like from Hartmut Neven and Erik Lucero, and see the path that we are currently taking in our latest update.
3. Access our most recent conference presentations in our YouTube channel’s Google Quantum AI talks playlist.
4. Explore another fun game, Quantum Chess, and the associated lesson plans created in collaboration with Quantum Realm Games and Caltech.
Continued commitment to building a quantum community
We’re thrilled to continue building a quantum computing community, and expanding access to quantum computing research. We hope you’ll give The Qubit Game a try, see how fast you can build your quantum computer, and learn how far down the quantum computing rabbit hole you go. Happy World Quantum Day!

https://blog.google/technology/research/world-quantum-day-meet-our-researchers-and-play-qubit-game/
Women Techmakers educate India's next generation
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Women Techmakers Ambassador Dhivya Krishna estimates she’s taught about 5,000 students in India about technology. Dhivya has co-organized two WTM chapters, WTM Coimbatore from 2018-2021 and WTM Chennai since 2021. She has also co-led two Google Developer Group (GDG) chapters, GDG Coimbatore from 2017-2021 and GDG Chennai since 2021.
Dhivya, a writer and life skills educator based in Chennai, was planning her Women Techmakers chapter’s International Women’s Day 2022 events. She noted underprivileged children in Chennai were fairly unaware of technology and how tech skills could benefit their lives and future employment prospects. So Dhivya launched a program for girls in several grammar schools and communities in outer Chennai.
“I wanted to bring awareness of technology to these girls–future CEOs, software developers and marketers, and International Women’s Day was the right time to do it,” says Dhivya, who will complete her Master’s in psychology this year.
Shilpa Garg, community manager for Google Developers Group (GDG) and Women Techmakers in India, was excited to hear about Dhivya’s plan, and she immediately secured support from the region and the Google team.
The two-day educational program taught girls ages 11-17 the basics of computers and technology. Topics included basic information like what the internet is, how Google Search and Docs work, and more complicated subjects like cybersecurity. At the end of each session, volunteers spent ten minutes teaching about women’s health.
“Our 17 volunteers, who were half women and half men, put their hearts and souls into creating presentations for young children,” says Dhivya. “I could see the girls getting inspired, watching our female volunteers express the significance of technology in their lives.”
“It takes a lot of effort to organize an initiative like this,” adds Prasad Seth, a community manager for Google Developer Groups in India. “For girls in the villages in India, access to technology and education can open up a world of opportunity. Events like this help with Indian social mobility, improve gender equality, and are the beginning of breaking barriers and making progress for women.”
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https://blog.google/technology/developers/women-techmakers-chennai/
Helping advertisers make the most of connected TV
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Connected TV (CTV) has become the go-to spot for people to kick back and enjoy their favorite content. According to Nielsen, over 50% of ad-supported streaming watch time happens on YouTube CTV for people ages 18 and up.[879425]
It’s also helped advertisers reach their audiences in smarter and more efficient ways. But we know there are challenges — like the ability to effectively plan and measure cross media, from creator shows to live TV. So we've been focused on bringing better digital ad capabilities to CTVs to allow for consistent planning and measurement across platforms, while improving the viewer experience. And today, we’re sharing some of our newest solutions.
We’re partnering with Nielsen to help advertisers understand how their YouTube CTV and YouTube TV reach delivers in comparison to other services. New tools will also help advertisers measure their total audience reached by YouTube CTV and deliver an even stronger CTV viewing experience.
Invest with confidence
Last year, we launched Nielsen Digital Ad Ratings (DAR) and Comscore Campaign Ratings (CCR) to help you more easily measure your YouTube CTV campaigns alongside other media. Later this year, YouTube CTV and YouTube TV will be available in Nielsen Total Ad Ratings (TAR) in the U.S. This release will include deduplication of YouTube inventory across all platforms — CTV, computer, mobile and linear TV — to better compare YouTube reach to linear TV.
Later this year, YouTube CTV and YouTube TV will be available in Nielsen Total Ad Ratings (TAR) in the U.S.
You’ll also see CTV device metrics within your media mix model (MMM) data feed, which can help measure sales outcomes and share insights on the impact of your YouTube CTV investment. To make the data analysis process faster for clients and easier for our measurement partners, we’ve launched a new data platform for MMM providers and advertisers to request data, track the status of those requests and ingest data directly.
We know MMMs provide one of the most important litmus tests for any video platform — does it actually work? On the most important metrics, YouTube is driving strong business results for customers. According to an MMM meta-analysis Google commissioned with Nielsen, on average, YouTube CTV was 3.1 times more effective than TV across U.S. consumer packaged goods (CPG) MMMs that measured YouTube CTV and TV (2021).[32b28f]
Account for everyone
Just like the decades-old tradition of gathering around the TV set, people are watching YouTube with their friends and family. In a study with Nielsen, we found that 26% of the time, multiple 18+ viewers are watching YouTube together on the TV screen, compared to 22% on linear TV.[9e1744]Across the industry, this is often referred to as “co-viewing.”
Accounting for multiple people, or “co-viewers,” has been a core part of TV measurement for years. To help you measure the same behavior with YouTube CTV and get an accurate picture of the total audience you’re reaching, co-viewing will be included in Nielsen's DAR guarantees ad reporting in the U.S. Advertisers will also have access to co-viewing metrics across Google’s planning and measurement solutions globally.
To help you measure the same behavior with YouTube CTV and get an accurate picture of the total audience you’re reaching, co-viewing will be included in Nielsen's DAR guarantees ad reporting in the U.S.
Whether you’re forecasting an upcoming campaign or reviewing post-campaign reports, you’ll soon see reach, frequency and an additional impression metric that accounts for all viewers on CTV. This means more accurate reach forecasts and campaign reports with an apples-to-apples comparison between YouTube and the rest of your linear and connected TV buy — ultimately helping you make smarter investment decisions. Our methodology is designed to meet the industry standard of co-viewing measurement. Learn more about how it works.
Co-viewing metrics will roll out globally across Google Ads and Display & Video 360 planning and measurement tools by the end of Q2 2022.
Reach the right audience, at the right frequency
We know it’s not all about reach. You also want to reach the right audience at the right frequency. Last month, we announced a new CTV frequency solution that allows for a better viewer experience and more efficient use of your CTV media dollars.
For the first time with Display & Video 360, you can manage CTV ad frequency across YouTube, YouTube TV and other connected TV apps. This lowers your risk of triggering ad fatigue for viewers, while adding more reach for the same ad budget. Early results show that this new functionality also significantly improves media performance for advertisers.
For the first time with Display & Video 360, you can manage CTV ad frequency across YouTube, YouTube TV and other connected TV apps.
In addition to frequency management, you can use other Google audience solutions with YouTube CTV to help boost performance and reach the most relevant viewers for your brand.
Drive results with leading CTV capabilities
Top brands are taking advantage of these digital-first capabilities to grow their business.
In 2021, DoorDash, alongside its agency Kepler Group, ran a six-week CTV campaign on YouTube to reach a large audience quickly, which ultimately drove a 50% incremental uplift in DoorDash driver sign-ups.
While viewers are watching the content they love on YouTube CTV, brands are driving real results. Reach out to your Google sales team to learn about YouTube CTV ads and these new planning and measurement solutions.

https://blog.google/products/ads-commerce/youtube-new-ctv-capabilities/
Our plans to invest $9.5 billion in the U.S. in 2022
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Google’s offices and data centers provide vital anchors to our local communities and help us contribute to their economies. In the U.S., over the past five years, we’ve invested more than $37 billion in our offices and data centers in 26 states, creating over 40,000 full-time jobs. That’s in addition to the more than $40 billion in research and development we invested in the U.S. in 2020 and 2021.
Today we’re announcing plans to invest approximately $9.5 billion in our U.S. offices and data centers in 2022. (Full details of where we’re investing are below.) Along with these investments, we expect to create at least 12,000 new full-time Google jobs by the end of the year, and thousands more among our local suppliers, partners and communities.
Investing in our offices and data centers for the future
It might seem counterintuitive to step up our investment in physical offices even as we embrace more flexibility in how we work. Yet we believe it’s more important than ever to invest in our campuses and that doing so will make for better products, a greater quality of life for our employees, and stronger communities.
Our contribution to communities starts with the jobs we create, both directly and indirectly. According to new research published by the Bay Area Council Economic Institute today, creating one job at a high-technology firm generates over four more jobs in the local economy.
At the same time, our investments in data centers will continue to power the digital tools and services that help people and businesses thrive. And as we work towards running our offices and data centers on carbon-free energy 24/7 by 2030, we’re aiming to set new standards for green building design — including pursuing certification through the International Living Future Institute for buildings like our new office in Sunnyvale, California.
Creating jobs and strengthening communities
Today we are also releasing our 2021 Economic Impact Report, which reflects Google’s wider contribution to the economy. The report shows we helped provide $617 billion in economic activity for millions of American businesses, nonprofits, creators, developers and publishers last year. In addition, the Android app economy helped create nearly two million jobs last year, and YouTube’s creative ecosystem supported 394,000 jobs in 2020.
We also continue to help people get the skills they need to succeed in today’s economy, from our role as a founding member of the Michigan Central innovation district in Detroit to our $100 million Google Career Certificates Fund — a new financial model for helping people access education and digital skills.
Where we’re investing in 2022
Here are some more details on where we’ll be investing in 2022.
- Aerial shot of construction crane at our new Kirkland Urban campus being built in Washington State.
  Construction underway at our new Kirkland Urban campus in Washington State.
- Aerial shot of our Nebraska data center facility in Papillion.
  Investing in our Nebraska data center presence.
- Rendering of people eating and congregating in the evening outside our proposed Downtown West mixed-use buildings in San Jose, California.
  Continuing progress on our Downtown West mixed-use development plans in San Jose, California.
- Aerial shot of our data center facility in Loudoun County, Virginia that we’re investing in.
  Continuing to invest in our data centers across Northern Virginia.
- Waterfront shot against downtown Manhattan skyline of Google’s new Pier 57 office in New York, with a public food hall and community spaces opening in 2022.
  Our new Pier 57 office in New York, with a public food hall and community spaces opening in 2022.
- Exterior wall of our Mayes County data center complex in Oklahoma that we’re investing in.
  Investing in our Mayes County data center in Oklahoma.
South Region
In Georgia, we’re opening our new Atlanta office this year and continuing to invest in our data center in Douglas County. In Texas, we’re also making progress on our new downtown Austin office, which is currently under construction, and continuing to invest in our Midlothian data center. And we’re continuing to invest in our data centers in Tennessee, Virginia and Oklahoma.
Midwest Region
We’re continuing to invest in our data centers in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and in Nebraska.
East Region
We continue to invest in our long-term office presence in New York, and make improvements to our Cambridge and Pittsburgh campuses.
Central Region
We’re continuing to build out our campus in Boulder.
West Region
In California, we’ll continue to invest in our offices and support affordable housing initiatives in the Bay Area as part of our $1 billion housing commitment. Elsewhere on the West Coast, we’ve opened a new office in downtown Portland, and we’re continuing to invest in our data center in The Dalles. We’re also investing in our Kirkland and Seattle campuses in Washington State. In Nevada, our data center in Storey County is now operational, with plans to expand it, and we’re investing more in our Henderson facility, too.

https://blog.google/inside-google/company-announcements/investing-america-2022/
Drive back to the ‘70, ‘80s, and ‘90s
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Is your affection for yesteryear rooted in the ‘70s disco movement, an ‘80s aerobics studio or ‘90s pop songs? For a drive back in time (and onwards to your next destination), activate Waze’s nostalgic new driving experience.
Retro Mode celebrates personalities and trends from the years most firmly cemented in today’s pop culture. Turn your next drive into a trip down memory lane with nostalgic moods, voices and cars.
Set your vibe on Waze to ‘70s peace, love and happiness with an eccentric radio DJ as your host and navigator, a flower-power “El Vanarino” as your vehicle and a groovy lava lamp Mood.
If Jazzercise is more your speed, break a sweat with an ‘80s aerobics instructor to guide your journey, while you maneuver in a Rad Racer sports car with a “Pumped!” boombox Mood.
Or you can head back to the ‘90s in your classic two-door “SUV4EVA” while a pop star helps you avoid traffic and the paparazzi. Set your Mood to “Dialed Up,” a classic desktop PC, but without the pain of waiting for your crush to sign online.
Also starting today, audio streaming service TuneIn is partnering with Waze to deliver ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s songs, allowing you to seamlessly access your favorite nostalgic bops directly via the Waze app. Stations include Hit Music 70’s in the UK, 90’s Hits in the US and Canada, and 80’s Alive in France. To listen through your Waze app make sure to sync your Audio Player.
For a drive that transports you to a new decade, click “My Waze” in your Waze app and tap the “Drive with the 80’s” banner to activate. It’s available globally, in English, French and Portuguese, for a limited time.

https://blog.google/waze/drive-back-to-the-70-80s-and-90s/
Lessons from the International Journalism Festival
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The International Journalism Festival in Perugia, Italy, is back after a two year hiatus due to the pandemic. As we arrived in the beautiful city, the energy was palpable as new connections were made, and familiar faces from around the world, and across the journalism community reunited. We had the privilege of hearing from reporters, news entrepreneurs and publishers of all sizes during the festival. We listened and participated in panels that discussed everything from innovation and DEI in the newsroom, to advocating for quality journalism and experimenting with new digital revenue streams. We also announced some key developments for the Google News Initiative in Europe, including:
- The opening of the first Google News Initiative Innovation Challenge for Europe, designed to stimulate innovation for small and medium-sized organizations which provide credible information when it’s needed most.
- The opening of the Journalism AI Fellowship with Polis at the LSE.
- The launch of the Google for Journalists playbook in 17 languages.
I’ve been going to this festival since 2017 and I learn something new every time. Here are a couple of my personal takeaways this year:
Innovation is sprouting in more regions, and in new and different ways
Whether it's exploring new business models, boosting reader engagement or working with technology to transform newsrooms, news organizations across Europe are innovating. One comment that resonated is that innovation is often placed in the ‘important, but not urgent pile’ when in fact if we are to successfully adapt to uncertainty and thrive then it’s a priority.
Digital skills will enable a new wave of journalism
Learning and career development can often take a back seat when you’re a journalist writing to a deadline. However, from my own newsroom experience, I know journalists are lifelong learners. At Perugia, we met freelance and newsroom journalists who are developing the necessary digital skills to combat misinformation, engage specialist topics and experiment with different digital publishing platforms, including podcasts, newsletters, virtual events and video.
We need to better support the mental health of journalists
The psychological toll of covering the daily news agenda, along with a sense of ‘burnout’ is a pervasive issue amongst journalists. In addition to the unique pressures of being a professional journalist, the past two years have pushed many to the breaking point. New initiatives to help restore the mental health of journalists are underway, including a new expert program from HeadlinesNet and MINDCharity to create a suite of mental health resources to specifically address the needs of journalists. In short, if the role of a journalist is truly sustainable we require a renewed focus on mental health practices.
Diversity in the newsroom
Many discussions centered around the impact diversity in the newsroom has in helping to better reflect the views of underrepresented audiences. By focusing on solving problems for a specific community, news organisations are differentiating themselves and creating value for their readers.
I’m leaving Perugia inspired to experiment, to share the learnings with my team and beyond, and to try new approaches to big challenges. Thank you to the organizers of this year's event, to the countless volunteers who enabled the festival to take place, and to all the journalists and journalism students we met this year. Here’s to 2023!
Note from the Editor: If you enjoyed this post, watch this short videofeaturing Matt’s highlights from the festival
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https://blog.google/around-the-globe/google-europe/lessons-international-journalism-festival/
New Fitbit feature makes AFib detection more accessible
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Today, Fitbit received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for our new PPG (photoplethysmography) algorithm to identify atrial fibrillation (AFib).[71d620]
You’ve got rhythm, but is it irregular?
AFib is a form of irregular heart rhythm that affects nearly 33.5 million people globally, and individuals with AFib have five times higher risk of stroke. Unfortunately, AFib can be difficult to detect as there are often no symptoms and episodes can come and go.
Our new PPG AFib algorithm can passively assess your heart rhythm in the background while you’re still or asleep. If there’s anything that might be suggestive of AFib, you’ll be notified through our Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications feature — allowing you to talk with your healthcare provider or seek further assessment to help prevent a significant medical event, such as stroke.
So how does PPG AFib detection work?
When your heart beats, tiny blood vessels throughout your body expand and contract based on changes in blood volume. Fitbit’s PPG optical heart-rate sensor can detect these volume changes right from your wrist. These measurements determine your heart rhythm, which the detection algorithm then analyzes for irregularities and potential signs of atrial fibrillation.
The clinical validation for Fitbit’s PPG algorithm is supported by data from the landmark Fitbit Heart Study, which launched in 2020 and enrolled 455,699 participants over five months. The study was conducted entirely virtually during the pandemic, making it one of the largest remote studies of PPG-based software to date. Data presented at the 2021 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions found that the Fitbit PPG detections correctly identified AFib episodes 98% of the time, as confirmed by ECG patch monitors.
Because AFib can be so sporadic, the optimal way to screen for it is through heart rate tracking technology when the body is still or at rest — making overnight detection when people are asleep especially important. The unique capabilities of Fitbit devices — especially its 24/7 heart rate tracking and long battery life — give it the potential to accelerate identification through long-term heart rhythm assessment.
All the ways to monitor heart health with Fitbit
With today’s FDA clearance of our PPG-based algorithm, Fitbit now provides two ways to detect AFib. Fitbit’s ECG app, which takes a spot-check approach, allows you to proactively screen yourself for possible AFib and record an ECG trace that you can then review with a healthcare provider. While the new PPG-based algorithm allows for long-term heart rhythm assessment that helps identify asymptomatic AFib that could otherwise go undetected.
The Fitbit PPG-based algorithm and Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications feature will soon be available to consumers in the U.S. across a range of heart-rate enabled devices. We want to make AFib detection as accessible as possible to help reduce the risk of potentially life-threatening events — like stroke — and ultimately improve overall heart health for everyone. We’ll continue to work with the BMS-Pfizer Alliance to develop educational content for patients and healthcare providers that will help identify and support people in the U.S. with irregular heart rhythms consistent with atrial fibrillation.
Visit our site to learn more about our PPG technology.

https://blog.google/products/fitbit/irregular-heart-rhythm-notifications/
Investing in Eastern Europe’s AI future
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It was an honor and a privilege to attend a special event in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, today to launch INSAIT, the Institute for Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Technology. INSAIT is a new AI and computer science research institute that will provide truly world-class facilities.
It’s fantastic to see the country where I was born leading the charge in bridging Eastern Europe to the world-stage in computer science research.
The institute is modeled on the computer science departments of renowned institutions such as MIT, UC Berkeley and the Max-Planck Institute, and is backed by the Bulgarian government with an endowment fund of nearly $100 million. Its computer science and AI research will span topics such as machine learning, quantum computing, information security, robotics and many more. Within two years, INSAIT expects faculty and students to publish papers in top conferences.
Google is investing $3 million over the next three years to provide INSAIT with cloud computing resources and access to itsTensor Processing Unit Research Cloud, a specialized infrastructure for running high-performance machine learning models. Supported with additional investment from DeepMind and Amazon Web Services, INSAIT aims to attract and develop the best researchers, engineers and top PhD and MSc students.
I know there’s no shortage of talented researchers, computer scientists and engineers in Eastern Europe – indeed, Sofia is already ranked asone of Europe’s top tech cities – but historically, the lack of local facilities, funding and support has meant limited opportunities for basic research. INSAIT has been created in partnership with two of the world’s leading technology universities, ETH Zurich and EPFL Lausanne, and its supervisory and advisory boards consist of leading researchers who are committed to help the institute achieve its ambitious goals.
INSAIT opens in September, and I know the team is particularly keen to receive applications from women and other groups that are often underrepresented in the world of tech.
Google is delighted to support these efforts, and I cannot wait to see what new innovation emerges from this promising venture.

https://blog.google/technology/ai/investing-in-eastern-europes-ai-future/
Hounding scammers with litigation
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Over the last few years we’ve seen a rise in bad actors using the internet for illegal activities, and we see it in our work. Every single day we stop more than 100 million harmful emails from reaching our users, and we routinely work with law enforcement to combat nefarious actors. But across the web, people are caught in romance scams, loan scams, and investment scams every day — and older Americans are often the most vulnerable.
Raising public awareness can help people avoid becoming victims. But for more emergent illicit behaviors and scams, lawsuits are an effective tool for establishing a legal precedent, disrupting the tools used by scammers, and raising the consequences for bad actors. That’s why last December we used our resources to file a lawsuit to combat illegal activity in the botnet industry and have used legal action to defend small businesses from scammers masquerading as Google. With these actions, we establish legal precedent to help stop similar cyber threats and scams.
Today, we’re building on this work by taking legal action against an actor who was operating fraudulent websites and using Google products as a part of their scheme. The actor used a network of fraudulent websites that claimed to sell basset hound puppies — with alluring photos and fake customer testimonials — in order to take advantage of people during the pandemic.
This type of scheme follows a similar script to many online scams where malicious actors pretend to be someone they are not to convince victims to give them money for something they will never receive. The Better Business Bureau recently announced that pet scams now make up 35% of all online shopping scams reported to them, and this particular scam targeted people at their most vulnerable, just as the pandemic led to a record spike in people wanting to own pets. (According to Google Search Trends, searches for “Adopt a Dog” spiked at the start of the pandemic as people spent more time at home. By the end of 2020, 70% of Americans reported owning a pet.)
Sadly, this scam disproportionately targeted older Americans, who can be more vulnerable to cyberattacks. The FTC and FBI report that older people are scammed out of an estimated $650 million per year.
That’s why we’re taking proactive action to set a legal precedent, protect victims, disrupt the scammer’s infrastructure, and raise public awareness. Of course, legal action is just one way we work to combat these types of scams. We build our security into all of our products and use machine learning to filter new threats, and our CyberCrime Investigation Group investigates misconduct and sends referrals to various law enforcement agencies including the Department of Justice to combat nefarious actors engaging in a wide range of scams including pets, covid relief, romance, and tech support scams.
Here are some additional steps you can take to help spot a pet scam:
- See the pet in person (or on a video call) before paying any money. This way, you are able to see the seller and the actual pet for sale. More often than not, scammers won't comply with the request.
- Use verified payment methods. Avoid wiring money or paying with gift cards or prepaid debit cards. And before you pay, research prices for what you’re looking to purchase. If someone is advertising a product at a deeply discounted price, you could be dealing with a fraudulent offer.
- Reverse image search. Search to see if the item or product is a stock image or stolen photo. Using Google Chrome, place the cursor over the photo and right click, then choose the option “Search Google for image.” If that picture shows up in a number of places, you’re likely dealing with a scam.
- Search online for the seller. Ask for the company name, number and street address. See what Google search results pop up. If you can’t find anything, the name and address are likely fake.
We will continue to work with federal and state agencies and law enforcement to ensure our consumers are better protected from fraud online.

https://blog.google/technology/safety-security/hounding-scammers-litigation/
Fi unlimited plans now start at $20
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Your family’s phone plan should be safe, seamless and offer great value, no matter what your data and budget needs are. That’s why today, we’re announcing reduced pricing for our unlimited phone plans and feature updates to all our phone plans to give you even more value.
Simply Unlimited — if you want unlimited data with the essentials
With the Simply Unlimited plan, rates now start at $20 per month per line for four or more lines, compared to the previous starting price of $30 per month. At this new lower price, Simply Unlimited will continue to be our most affordable unlimited plan — especially for families and groups.
We’re also adding more high-speed data — an increase from 22 GB to 35 GB. And we’re including 5 GB of hotspot tethering so that when you’re on the go, you can use your phone as a portable Wi-Fi hotspot and share its Internet connection with your other devices, like a tablet or laptop.
In addition, we're adding unlimited calling within Canada and Mexico. That means you’ll get data, calls and texts within the U.S., Canada and Mexico included in your plan.
Unlimited Plus — if you want unlimited data at home and abroad, plus all the extras
The Unlimited Plus plan — our plan packed with the most premium features — now starts at only $40 per month per line for four or more lines, compared to the previous price of $45 per month.
We’re adding more high-speed data, too — an increase from from 22 GB to 50 GB per month. And we’re including unlimited calling within Canada and Mexico at no extra cost, so data, calls and texts within the U.S., Canada and Mexico will be included in your plan.
With Unlimited Plus, you’ll continue to get all the same features as Simply Unlimited, plus unlimited high-speed hotspot tethering, the ability to use your data on up to four additional devices with data-only SIMs at no extra cost and 100 GB of cloud storage with Google One. You also get international calls to 50+ destinations and international data abroad in 200+ destinations.
Flexible — if you use less data or lots of Wi-Fi
The Flexible plan will continue to help you save if you use less data, at $17 per month per line for four lines for unlimited calls and text, plus $10 per GB for data at home and abroad. We’re also adding unlimited calling within Canada and Mexico at no extra cost.
With the Flexible plan, you’ll continue to only pay for the data you use at home and abroad in 200+ destinations. You’ll still get unlimited calls and texts as well as hotspot tethering, plus you can use your data on up to four other devices with data-only SIMs at no extra cost.
Peace of mind and helpful features at no extra cost
No matter which plan you choose, you’ll get fast coverage, including nationwide 5G for supported phones and helpful features — all at no extra cost. For instance, if you’re a parent, one of your biggest concerns might be your child’s safety. Our privacy and security features include spam blocking, a built-in VPN and end-to-end encrypted calls for Android phones on Fi to protect your family’s personal information. And family features allow you to block contact from strangers, set data budgets, share your location with family members and more.
With Fi you’re never locked into contracts, and you can cancel anytime. You can join right from home without having to walk into a store, and you can easily switch between plans so you have room to grow if your needs change.
To celebrate this launch, for a limited time, you can save up to $500 on select phones or get $100 in Fi bill credit if you bring your own phone, when you join or add a line. Terms apply, and you can read more about them on our website.
To explore Fi plans and find the best and most affordable option for you, visit fi.google.com/about/plans.

https://blog.google/products/google-fi/fi-unlimited-plans-now-start-20/
Ask a Techspert: What’s that weird box next to my emoji?
• sorangutan

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A few months ago, I received a message from a friend that, I have to confess, made absolutely no sense. Rows of emoji followed by different boxes — like this 􏿿􏿿􏿿􏿿􏿿􏿿 — appeared…so I sent back a simple “huh?” Apparently she’d sent me a string of emoji that were meant to tell me about her weekend and let’s just say that it was all lost in translation.
To find out exactly what caused our communication breakdown, I decided to ask emoji expert Jennifer Daniel.
Why did the emoji my friend typed to me show up as 􏿿􏿿􏿿􏿿􏿿􏿿 ?
Oy boy. No bueno. Sounds like your friend was using some of the new emoji that were released this month. (Not to rub it in but they are so good!!! There’s a salute 🫡, a face holding back tears, 🥹 and another face that’s melting 🫠!) Sadly, you’re not the only one who’s losing things in translation. For way too long, 96% of Android users couldn’t see emoji released the year they debuted.
And it isn't just an Android problem: Despite being one of the earliest platforms to include emoji, Gmail received its first emoji update since 2016 last year! (You read that right: Two-thousand-sixteen!) This often resulted in skin toned and gendered emoji appearing broken.
A few examples of "broken" skin tone and gendered emoji.
What!? That’s crazy. Why?
Yeah, strong agree. Historically, emoji have been at the mercy of operating system updates. New OS? New emoji. If you didn’t update your device, it meant that when new emoji were released, they would display as those black boxes you saw, which are referred to as a “tofu.” It gets worse: What if your phone doesn’t offer OS updates? Well, you’d have to buy a newer phone. Maybe that’d be worth it so you can use the new finger heart emoji (🫰)???
Emoji are fundamental to digital communication. Meanwhile, there is a very real economic divide between people who can afford to get a new phone every year (or who can afford a fancy phone that generously updates the OS) and everyone else in the world. That is lame, absurd and I personally hate it. Now for the good news: Check your phone, I bet you can see the emoji from your friend’s email today.
Whaaaaat! You’re right. Why can I see them now but I couldn’t a few months ago?
Well, this year Google finally decoupled emoji updates from operating system updates. That means YOU get an emoji and YOU get an emoji and YOU get an emoji!
What does “decoupled” emoji updates mean?
It basically means emoji can be updated on your phone or your computer without you updating your operating system. As of this month, all apps that use Appcompat (a tool that enables Android apps to be compatible with several Android versions)will automatically get the latest and greatest emoji so you can send and receive emoji even if you don’t have the newest phone. And this will work across Google: All 3,366 emoji will now appear in Gmail, on Chrome OS and lots of other places when people send them to you. Apps that make their own emoji rather than defaulting on the operating system may find themselves falling behind as taking on the responsibility of maintaining and distributing emoji is a lot of work. This is why we're so thrilled to see Google rely on Noto Emoji so everyone can get the latest emoji quickly.
Since you mentioned Gmail being an early emoji adopter, it makes me wonder…how old are emoji? Where do they come from?
A volunteer-based organization called the Unicode Consortium digitizes the world’s languages. They’re the reason why when you send Hindi from one computer the computer on the other end can render it in Hindi. In their mission to ensure different platforms and operating systems can work together, they standardize the underlying technology that Google, Apple, Twitter and others use to render their emoji fonts.
You see, emoji are a font. That’s right. A font. I know. They look like tiny pictures but they operate the same way any other letter of the alphabet does when it enters our digital realm.
Like the letter A (U+0041) or the letter अ (U+0905), each emoji is assigned a code point (for instance, 😤 is U+1F624) by the Unicode Consortium. (Some emoji contain multiple code points — I’m generalizing a bit! Don’t tell the Unicode Consortium.) Point being: Emoji are a font and like fonts, some emoji on iPhones look different than they do on Pixel phones.
A variety of the new emoji designs that are now visible across Google products including Gmail, Google Chat, YouTube Live Chat and Chrome OS.
So, the Unicode Consortium makes fonts?
No, they manage a universal character encoding set that written languages map to. Google's Noto project is a global font project to support those existing scripts and languages. Google uses Noto Emoji and provides resources to ensure your emoji render on Android and in desktop environments including metadata like iconography and shortcodes too! All Google chat products now support this.
We’re also working on ways for you to download or embed Noto Emoji into your website of choice via fonts.google.com. So, stay tuned 😉.
Emoji are a font. Black boxes are tofus. The more you know! I guess I have one final question: Now that I can send (and see!) the melting face emoji, will it look identical no matter who I send it to?
Well, every emoji font has its own flavor. Some of these design variations are minor and you might not even notice them. With others, primarily the smilies (😆🤣🥲), the details really matter — people are hardwired to read micro-expressions! The last thing anyone wants is an emoji you see as a smile and someone else sees as a downward smirk — it can ruin friendships! Fortunately, over the past three years designs have converged, so there’s less chance of being misunderstood 🌈.
Read Article
Polishing up emoji and making them easier to share
What does World Emoji Day look like without new emoji?
Read Article

https://blog.google/products/android/ask-a-techspert-whats-that-weird-box-next-to-my-emoji/
Stadia Savepoint: March updates
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It’s time for another round of our Savepoint series, where we recap the new games, features and updates available on Stadia.
Last month, new titles like Adventure Time: Pirates of the Enchiridion, Dawn of the Monsters and Mad Streets launched on the Stadia store for purchase. Plus, with the global releases of Ryan's Rescue Squad and Trivial Pursuit Live! 2, Stadia players could play right away without waiting to download or install.
Players also experienced gameplay twists with new expansions and add-on content in Stadia games in March. In Dawn of Ragnarök, a major new expansion for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, players took control of the Norse god Odin within a legendary Viking saga. Meanwhile, 505 Games’ Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night revealed a new playable character available at no cost — Aurora from Child of Light!
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In March, the Stadia Pro library grew to 51 titles for subscribers to claim and play. That included five games added to the Pro library on March 1: Race with Ryan: Road Trip Deluxe Edition, Adam Wolfe, Dawn of the Monsters, Darksiders Genesis and Darkwood.
It’s easy to try out a new game in the Pro library, especially since creating a new Stadia account includes a one-month trial of Stadia Pro. Play Day events in March also unlocked games like Dead by Daylight, Rainbow Six Siege and Far Cry 6 to play at no additional cost.
Finally, at the Google for Games Developer Summit in March, we announced that timed trials for full games are being added to Stadia.com. Play nine trials at no cost and without creating a Stadia account. Try it now with the 60-minute trial of Risk of Rain 2.
Stadia Pro updates
- Five new games were added to the Stadia Pro library in March.
- Today, there are 51 games to explore in Stadia Pro: HITMAN, Darksiders Genesis, République, Journey to the Savage Planet, PixelJunk Raiders, Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince, The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III, Terraria, Darkwood, The Darkside Detective, PAW Patrol Mighty Pups: Save Adventure Bay, It Came From Space And Ate Our Brains, Epistory - Typing Chronicles, Killer Queen Black, GRIME, ARK: Survival Evolved, Floor Kids, Blue Fire, Wave Break, Legend of Keepers: Career of a Dungeon Manager, Hello Engineer, Cake Bash, Control Ultimate Edition, Saints Row IV: Re-Elected, Kemono Heroes, Hundred Days - Winemaking Simulator, Wavetale, Destroy All Humans!, Wreckfest, The Falconeer: Warrior Edition, Transformers: Battlegrounds, FORECLOSED, Unto The End, Darksiders III, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, Shantae: Risky’s Revenge, The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark, DreamWorks Dragons: Dawn of New Riders, Life Is Strange Remastered, Life Is Strange: Before The Storm Remastered, Nanotale - Typing Chronicles, Merek’s Market, One Hand Clapping, PHOGS!, Dawn of the Monsters, Adam Wolfe, Race with Ryan Road Trip Deluxe Edition, World War Z: Aftermath, City Legends: The Curse of the Crimson Shadow Collector’s Edition, Ys IX: Monstrum Nox, Chicken Police - Paint it RED!.
- There are ongoing discounts for Pro subscribers — check out the web or mobile Stadia store for the latest.
March content launches on Stadia:
Stadia announcements in March:
- Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Discovery Tour - Viking Age
- Cities: Skylines
- City Legends: The Curse of the Crimson Shadow Collector’s Edition
- Deliver Us The Moon
- Elemental War 2
- Golf With Your Friends
- Lumote: The Mastermote Chronicles
- Overcooked! All You Can Eat
As always, we’ll be back next month to share another recap. In the meantime, keep an eye on the Stadia Community Blog, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter for the latest on new games, features and updates.

https://blog.google/products/stadia/savepoint-march-2022-updates/
Coming soon: More ways to repair your Pixel phone
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We want you to have a great experience with your Pixel phone, and that includes easy access to high-quality and safe device repair if your phone is ever damaged. That’s why we’re working with iFixit to make it easier for independent repair professionals and skilled consumers with the relevant technical experience to access the genuine Google parts they need to repair Pixel phones.
Starting later this year, genuine Pixel spare parts will be available for purchase at ifixit.com for Pixel 2 through Pixel 6 Pro, as well as future Pixel models, in the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia and EU countries where Pixel is available. The full range of spare parts for common Pixel phone repairs — things like batteries, replacement displays, cameras and more — will be available either individually or in iFixit Fix Kits, which include tools like screwdriver bits and spudgers.
Easier, more accessible repairs
If you don’t want to make repairs yourself and would prefer professional help, you can always take your phone somewhere local to have it quickly and affordably repaired by an authorized technical expert. We already partner with independent repair providers like uBreakiFix, which has more than 750 locations across the U.S. and Canada supporting in-warranty and out-of-warranty Pixel repairs. We have similar partnerships with walk-in support providers in Canada, Germany, Japan and the U.K., with more to come. Pixel repair options are available in all countries where we sell Pixel phones.
We evaluate each new Pixel model on how easy it is to repair so we can reduce the effort, tools, parts and materials involved in the repair process. We also make training, documentation, tools and spare parts available to our authorized repair partners, and we plan on expanding this availability in the future.
We’re taking steps to expand repair options for other devices, too. We recently partnered with companies like Acer and Lenovo to launch the Chromebook repair program, helping schools find information about repairable Chromebooks and develop in-house repair programs. We also introduced Chrome OS Flex, which lets education and enterprise users repurpose old Mac or PC devices to run a version of Chrome OS alongside their Chromebook fleet. This helps users save on hardware costs, effectively recycle unused devices and manage their fleet sustainably and efficiently.
Helping you make sustainable choices
Improving repairability is an important way to help extend the life and usefulness of your phone. And it’s just one of several steps we’re taking to help you make more sustainable choices. One way we’re working toward our hardware sustainability commitments is by making sure our products can be sustainable from the start — and we incorporate that across our operations.
For example, starting in 2022, 100% of Google hardware products will include recycled materials with a drive to maximize recycled content wherever possible. Additionally, we’re enabling 100% carbon-neutral shipments of Google hardware products to and from our direct customers, as well as working to achieve Zero Waste to landfill certification in 2022 and plastic-free packaging by 2025.
To help older devices work like new and last longer, we’re committed to at least five years of security updates for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, and at least five years of automatic security updates for Nest-connected home devices from the date we start selling them on the U.S. Google Store. We’re also providing quarterly software Feature Drops for Pixel phones, updates for Nest products and extended software updates for Chromebooks.
You also have options if you’re not sure what to do with your phone when you don’t want it anymore. In select countries, our trade-in program accepts phones from a variety of major consumer electronics brands, so you can earn credit rewards for a new Pixel and rest assured that your old phone is responsibly recycled or reused. And with our recycling program, you can mail us your old or unused devices and we’ll responsibly recycle them for you. We make efforts to reclaim or recycle parts from used or returned devices, so that they don’t end up in landfills. We’re also always researching other safe and responsible ways to help you dispose of your old and outdated electronics.
When we built the first Pixel phone just five years ago, we made a commitment to design our hardware products in a way that’s sustainable and puts our customers first. There’s more to do, including expanding our repair network and improving repairability across our products. We look forward to sharing more as we make progress on this promise.

https://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/sustainability/pixel-phone-repairs/
The fashion trends that are warming up for spring
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When the weather changes, so do our fashion preferences. Out with the sweaters and flannel, in with the swimsuits and florals — to celebrate the closet switch-up, we’re sharing some interesting fashion trends and queries from Google Shopping. For starters, people are looking to history for inspiration: The most-searched fashion trends over the past 30 days in the U.S. are “80s fashion,” followed by “90s fashion,” “y2k fashion,” “2000s fashion” and “70s fashion.”
If you’re not ready for your closet to go back in time, there are a few other springtime-related search trends that might fit a bit better (pun intended) — starting with florals. (We know, we know: groundbreaking.)
“Sunflower bathing suit” is a breakout search over the past 30 days in the U.S., as is “floral handbag,” which saw a +140% spike over the same period of time. Nail art search trends included the phrases “sunflower,” “daisy,” “summer” and “spring,” as well.
Read Article
Here's how online shoppers are finding inspiration
Google is releasing new insights about how people find their inspiration to shop.
Read Article
And while it’s not a floral per se, the color green — which is definitely garden adjacent — is also having a moment: “Green glitter nails” spiked more than 130% over the past 30 days in the U.S. “Green Prada shoes” saw nearly the same rise (+100%) within the last month, too. Green was also the most-searched nail polish color, and the second-most popular color in searches for handbags after black. Which obviously raises the question: Is green the new black!? Keep an eye on spring fashion to find out.

https://blog.google/products/shopping/fashion-trends-warm-springtime/
How AI and imagery build a self-updating map
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Building a map is complex, and keeping it up-to-date is even more challenging. Think about how often your city, town or neighborhood changes on a day-to-day basis. Businesses and shops open and close, stretches of highway are added, and roadways change. In today’s Maps 101 installment, we’ll dive into two ways Google Maps uses advancements in AI and imagery to help you see the latest information about the world around you every single day.
Automatically updating business hours
Over the past few years, businesses have experienced a lot of change — including constantly updating operating hours based on changing pandemic-related restrictions. To keep up with this pace of change, we developed a machine learning model that automatically identifies if business hours are likely wrong, then instantly updates them with AI-generated predictions.
Let’s look at Liam’s Lemonade Shop as an example. To start, our systems consider multiple factors — such as when Liam last updated their business profile, what we know about other shops' hours, and the Popular Times information for the shop, which uses location trends to show when it tends to be busiest. Since it appears that Liam’s business profile hasn’t been updated in over a year and its busiest hours are typically Thursday afternoons — even though Google Maps says that it's closed at that time — Liam’s business hours are likely out of date.
To see if business hours need updating, we check a store’s Popular Times information and when its business profile was last updated.
So what’s next? Our algorithms analyze the business hours of other nearby lemonade shops, information from Liam’s website, and Street View images of Liam’s storefront that look specifically for business hour signs to determine the most accurate business hour prediction. At the same time, we enlist the help of the Google Maps community — including Local Guides and even the business owners themselves through their Google Business Profile — to verify the information we predicted. In Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, and the United States, we also use Duplex conversational technology to call businesses just like Liam’s and ask for their hours directly. With this new AI-first approach, we’re on track to update the hours for over 20 million businesses around the globe in the next six months - helping you know exactly when your favorite store, restaurant or cafe is open for business .
Road information that reflects the real world
We’re also experimenting with ways we can use imagery to make updates to other helpful information. For instance, starting in the U.S., we’re launching a third-party imagery pilot to let you see the most up-to-date speed limit information in your town, which can help keep you safe while driving. Here’s how it works:
Say our systems think that the speed limit information on a particular highway needs to be updated. With the help of third-party imagery partners that already gather roadway imagery to improve delivery routes, we can request a photo of the specific stretch of road that also includes a speed limit sign. If the partner has this photo available, we then use a combination of AI and help from our operations team to identify the sign in the image, extract the new speed limit information, and update Google Maps.
Representative imagery featuring a speed limit sign, with license plates blurred
Over time, this technology will bring more details to the map that can help make your drives safer and more efficient — like where potholes and school zones are or where new construction is happening. And as with all Google Maps features, we designed this pilot with privacy top of mind. For instance, we only reference images taken on public roads, and partners are required to blur information (like faces and license plates) to avoid potentially identifying someone. For an extra layer of privacy, we blur the photo again when we receive it and delete the photo after we use it to update the map.
AI, imagery and Duplex technology will continue to play a critical role in helping make Google Maps the most comprehensive and useful map possible. For more behind-the-scenes looks at the technology that powers Google Maps, check out the rest of our Maps 101 blog series.

https://blog.google/products/maps/how-ai-and-imagery-build-self-updating-map/
Bringing the science of climate data to life through art
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Some of the most dramatic climate-fueled changes on our planet are happening in places most of us have no way of visiting. And while data and charts are important, nothing can replace the human experience of witnessing life first-hand.
That is where art comes in. Throughout history, artists have used their work to take people to faraway places and shed light on deep challenges facing humankind. In an important continuation of that legacy, today artists Refik Anadol and female collective Hyphen Labs are asking questions like “What would we see if we scanned the earth for damages?” and “How will we feel the cascading effects of melting ice sheets?”
They offer an answer in two new online artworks published today as part of ourHeartbeat of the Earth program. This program, from Google Arts & Culture and UN Climate Change, invites artists to interpret scientific climate data through interactive online artworks.
These new artworks add to the eight published works since the programstarted in 2020, with the goal of making the data behind the climate crisis more accessible and visible.
“With the impacts of climate change accelerating and becoming more evident every day, it’s more important than ever to engage artists and to use culture as a vehicle for the urgent message around the climate crisis,” said Ovais Sarmad, deputy executive secretary of UN Climate Change. “Complex science and data needs to be displayed in an emotional way, allowing us to understand how global heating impacts us all individually and collectively.”
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MRI of the Earth— what would we see if we scanned the Earth for damages?
Artist Refik Anadol interprets our planet’s 'body’—exposing the harm we are inflicting on it through climate change. Anadol then invites you to reflect on the Earth’s beauty through machine learning generated visualizations of the Earth’s natural landscapes and inspire actions for a hopeful future.
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Insidious Rising— How will we feel the cascade effects of warming ice sheets?
Global female artist collective Hyphen Labs, together with Iñupiaq (indigenous from North Alaska) artist Allison Akootchook Warden and the Union of Concerned Scientists, explore the cascade effects of warming polar ice sheets and how a warming climate will not only trigger ecological collapse, but also put pressure on existing systems that already disproportionately affect the marginalized.
We hope these artworks will encourage people to learn more about the climate crisis and inspire action.

https://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/arts-culture/bringing-science-climate-data-life-through-art/
Why this engineer made a career move after 25 years
• 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 Manav Mediratta, an Engineering Manager based in Bengaluru, India who made a career change after 25 years to follow his passion for AI.
How would you describe your role?
I’m an Engineering Manager on Google’s Silicon team, which develops software for Google’s hardware products — like Google Tensor, the chip used in Pixel phones. We keep Google's research in AI and machine learning at the center of our work.
What does your typical workday look like?
My days vary, but I usually focus on growing our relatively new teams in Bengaluru and Hyderabad. I also work with teammates in Taiwan to make sure we’re on track to deliver new devices for our customers. Because we work in such a fast-moving industry, we need to stay on our toes every day.
Manav working from his home office
What made you decide to apply to Google?
I worked in the same company for more than 25 years before I joined Google, so this is only my second job. Throughout my career, I discovered my passion for developing products with both hardware and software components. When I saw that Google had started the Silicon team, I was drawn by the potential to focus on this passion and create impact through machine learning and AI. Plus, I knew it would be a fun ride and a great opportunity to solve interesting problems.
What’s your favorite part of your job?
A lot of hard work goes into these small devices in our hands, and I’m always inspired by the difference it makes in people’s lives. Think about translation apps that bridge language gaps or camera features that capture memories — these are important, real-life moments powered by technology built by our team.
Manav and his family
What was your application and interview experience like?
It was very smooth and accommodating! At first, the interviews seemed extensive and intimidating. But I learned you can work with your recruiter to organize an interview schedule that suits you. Google offers a lot of flexibility like this to help candidates feel comfortable. A couple of my interviews will always stick with me. They never felt like tests — they were conversations with passionate practitioners who were honest about what they did and just wanted to see how I’d fit in.
Any particular methods you used to prepare for your interviews?
I wrote down the top 10 problems I’ve solved throughout my career, technical or otherwise. This is very helpful to have on hand for any behavioral or situation-based questions.
What advice do you have for aspiring Googlers?
Everyone feels nervous before an interview — I definitely did! But I quickly realized that Google has designed the interview process to bring out the best in you. So be an active participant and co-create the interview experience you want. And don’t be afraid to take the plunge!

https://blog.google/inside-google/life-at-google/why-engineer-made-career-move-after-25-years/