Advancements in AI technology: Insights from Google Cloud Next

As the Google Cloud Next 2024 event in Las Vegas drew to a close, theCUBE reflected back on the highlights and announcements from three days of sessions, including the latest on the artificial intelligence front. From groundbreaking advancements in AI technology to the profound impact of generative AI on healthcare, theCUBE’s coverage featured 35 segments and 42 different guests over three days, offering a glimpse at the future of AI and some of the collaborative efforts behind it.

“I can totally see how much Google is listening to its customers and prospects, watching what the competitors are doing,” said John Furrier (pictured, left), theCUBE co-founder and executive analyst at theCUBE Research. “I totally can see the Google roadmap; the cloud roadmap here really being driven by the boardroom all the way down to the developer and everything in between.”

Furrier was joined by fellow analysts Rebecca Knight (second from left), Savannah Peterson (second from right) and Dustin Kirkland (right) as part of the show wrap at Google Cloud Next 2024, during an exclusive broadcast on theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s livestreaming studio. They discussed the transformative power of AI and the collective efforts of industry leaders to push the boundaries of innovation. (* Disclosure below.)

AI technology for tech and non-tech individuals

One of the standout themes of the event was the advancement of AI technology, particularly in the realm of code generation and personal productivity tools. For its part, Google LLC has made remarkable strides in this field, according to Kirkland.

“The generative AI for code and developers just continues progressing,” he said. “It’s not a big surprise, but the steps that we’re taking toward high-level articulation of what you want some code to do for you and code being generated from that, it’s incredible. Google’s just incredible when it comes to that technology.”

There were also the innovations aimed at enhancing everyday experiences for non-tech individuals, such as the Gemini productivity tool, which was also an important aspect of the announcements at the event, according to Knight.

“I always gravitate toward the announcements that are really for the non-tech people,” she said. “This is really about how normal people do their day-to-day. I am most intrigued by the announcements that have to do with our personal productivity. Gemini is what I think will have the most impact on people’s day-to-day experience of their jobs.”

The evolution of AI technology and quality of life

Amid the technical discussions, the panelists also share personal anecdotes and reminisce about the evolution of technology, from the early days of email to the current AI revolution. The ubiquitous AI integration and a future where AI seamlessly augments human capabilities across all facets of life has big societal implications, according to Furrier.

“The idea of these agents emerging that are going to augment the human in the loop is going to be a big part of that next gen,” he said. “The prompt answer side of AI, everyone knows, but this whole reasoning and reinforced learning piece will be huge. I think when agents start getting that real knowledge and reliability, that’ll be a game changer.”

Fortunately, there is hope for the future of AI, as it will play an important part in security and scalability and will have a real-world impact. At some point, AI technology will not only enhance efficiency but also foster creativity and improve the quality of life for users around the globe, according to Peterson.

“It’s really going to improve quality of life,” she said. “We talk a lot about the democratization of AI. It’s not democratized until it’s helping everyone at every income level in every country in different parts of this planet.”

Here’s the complete video interview, part of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE Research’s coverage of Google Cloud Next 2024:

(* Disclosure: TheCUBE is a paid media partner for Google Cloud Next 2024. Neither Google LLC, the primary sponsor for theCUBE’s event coverage, nor other sponsors have editorial control over content on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.)

Photo: SiliconANGLE