The age of artificial intelligence (AI) has arrived. Indeed, according to the most recent Google Search Trends, Nigerians are more interested in AI than ever before.
Google has made changes to its core products, which reach billions of people every day, in recent years to help users make more sustainable choices.
For example, Google released eco-friendly routing in Europe last year, which uses artificial intelligence to show Google Maps users the most fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly route, as well as the fastest.
The tool is already estimated to have saved more than 500,000 metric tons of carbon emissions, which is equivalent to taking 100,000 gasoline-powered cars off the road.
For the avoidance of doubt, search interest in “artificial intelligence” reached an all-time high in Nigeria and around the world in 2022.
Top trending questions in Nigeria include “what is AI art,” “what is deep learning in artificial intelligence,” “how to become an AI engineer,” and “when was artificial intelligence invented,” which were all searched 5,000% more in 2022 than in 2021.
Other searches included “what is artificial intelligence all about” (+370%), “is artificial intelligence a course” (+260%) and “what is artificial intelligence” (+130%).
Well, Google also made changes to its Hotel, Flight and Shopping tools to help users see which options are most sustainable.
Four Things to Know about Google’s work with AI
1. Google has been pursuing AI boldly and responsibly for years – in fact, in 2018, the Alphabet’s company was one of the first companies to establish AI Principles grounded in beneficial use and avoidance of harm.
Today Google approach to AI is laid out clearly in the Google AI Blueprint – detailing the company’s approach to pursuing AI responsibly.
2. Lots of the products Google is most known for use AI every day. For example, AI helps Google Search to provide answers that better address the meaning of your query; Google Photos to return the right results when you search for “dogs”, and Google Maps to help predict your time to a destination.
3. Google is also using AI to address some of society’s biggest challenges. For example, in Ghana, Google’s AI Center is working in collaboration with InstaDeep and the UN to better detect locust outbreaks so that it’s possible to implement control measures.
While in Bangladesh and India, AI is helping forecast where floods will occur, identify who needs to be warned in advance, and where they can go to be safe.
In 2021, Google sent flood alert notifications to 23 million people in Bangladesh and India, helping to keep them safe.
4. AI can also be used in healthcare: Google engineers are researching how AI technology can be used in the screening process to detect breast cancer.
Google technology has proven to be as accurate as radiologists, and hopes to increase access to breast screening; improve the consistency of screening processes; and narrow the time between screening and assessment.
