Author Archives: Aaron Canada

Go North to unlock the potential of AI

The 20th century brought about incredible changes to the way we work and live. There was the combustion engine, the telephone, the assembly line and, of course, the Internet. Today artificial intelligence and machine learning is expected to bring similarly profound changes. And Canada stands poised to lead the world into this new era.

Imagine you could take a picture of a mole on your arm and your smartphone could assist your dermatologist in diagnosing if it’s malignant. This is not science fiction, it’s a system Vancouver's MetaOptima is developing today - and it’s powered by artificial intelligence.

From diagnosing cancer to reducing data centre energy consumption, artificial intelligence offers a new tool for tackling real-world challenges. Today, at Google Canada’s annual Go North summit, we’re bringing together AI leaders from across Canada and around the world to help Canadian industry better understand the vast potential of this technology to transform their business, shape future innovations and improve our world.

Follow along on Twitter @GoogleCanada or tune-in to the Go North livestream (starting at 9am ET) featuring Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau; Google Chairman, Eric Schmidt; founder of DeepMind, Demis Hassabis; OpenAI’s Shivon Zilis; YouTuber Taryn Southern who uses AI to compose music; Geoffrey Hinton and many more including the founder of MetaOptima, Dr. Maryam Sadeghi.
Go North will explore Canada’s success in building the superclusters of investment and innovation that have sprung up around the work of Yoshua Bengio in Montreal, Geoffrey Hinton in Toronto and Rich Sutton in Edmonton -- global leaders whose research underpins many of the advances we’re seeing in AI today. The conference will highlight the amazing advancements happening here in Canada and the opportunity for businesses to leverage the country’s rich research pedigree and to unlock the potential of AI. When it comes to artificial intelligence, Canada is having a moment - and we’ll seize it at Go North.

Posted by Sabrina Geremia, Google Canada Country Director

Making search results more local and relevant

When you’re searching on Google, we aim to provide the most useful results for your query. Today, around one in five searches on Google is related to location, so providing locally relevant search results is an essential part of serving you the most accurate information.


In order to provide this optimal experience, your location determines the country service you receive results for
across Google Search and Maps. Historically, these services have been labeled and accessed via
country code top level domain names (ccTLD) such as [google.ng for Nigeria] or [google.com.br for Brazil].
You may also have typed in the relevant ccTLD in your browser.


Today, we’ve updated the way we label country services on the mobile web, the Google app for iOS, and desktop
Search and Maps. Now the choice of country service will no longer be indicated by domain. Instead, by default,
you’ll be served the country service that corresponds to your location. So if you live in Australia, you’ll automatically
receive the country service for Australia, but when you travel to New Zealand, your results will switch automatically
to the country service for New Zealand. Upon return to Australia, you will seamlessly revert back to the Australian
country service.




If for some reason you don't see the right country when you're browsing, you can still go into settings and select
the correct country service you want to receive. Typing the relevant ccTLD in your browser will no longer bring you
to the various country services—this preference should be managed directly in settings. In addition, at the bottom
of the search results page, you can clearly see which country service you are currently using.




It’s important to note that while this update will change the way Google Search and Maps services are labeled, it
won’t affect the way these products work, nor will it change how we handle obligations under national law. This
update will help ensure that you get the most relevant results based on your location and is consistent with how
Google already manages our services across a number of our other platforms, including YouTube, Blogger, Google
Earth and Gmail, among others.

We’re confident this change will improve your Search experience, automatically providing you with the most useful information based on your search query and other context, including location.

Evelyn Kao, Product Manager

Chromebooks are at the head of the class in Canada’s K-12 schools

Author: Bram Bout, Director, Google for Education

Summary: Chromebooks are now the top-selling device to schools in Canada.

Around the world, education has undergone a technological revolution. Cloud-connected devices and learning applications are shaping new ways of teaching and learning. Across Canada, school districts are using Chromebooks and G Suite for Education to expand learning opportunities for students from diverse communities and backgrounds. And now, Futuresource has reported that Chromebooks are the number-one-selling educational device for Canadian K12 schools.
With this news, Canada joins the U.S., Sweden, and New Zealand, where Chromebooks are also the top devices used in classrooms. Futuresource Associate Director Mike Fisher says that the offering of Chromebooks, combined with productivity tools and a management console for IT staff, means that “a growing number of schools are turning to Google when bringing technology into the classroom.”

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Here are a few examples of how districts across Canada are using Google’s educational tools:

Giving schools more choice and flexibility

Toronto District School Board, the largest district in Canada, leaves technology purchases up to individual schools. Chromebook usage has soared across the district to 20,000 devices since the first pilot purchases in early 2015. “Hundreds of schools are purchasing Chromebooks out of local school technology budgets,” says Kevin Bradbeer, the school board’s senior manager of client relations. “We're seeing grassroots decisions to choose this platform over three or four other choices.”

Both students and teachers appreciate the quickness of Chromebooks. Bradbeer says students power up their Chromebooks in seconds, so they can get right to work in class.
Canada photo #1.JPG
Students collaborating on Chromebooks at an elementary-junior high school in Edmonton.
Affordable devices that bring powerful computing to all students

The Upper Grand School District Board, in Guelph, Ontario, purchased 4,000 Chromebooks in 2013 for special-education students, but found that other students consistently borrowed the Chromebooks to bring into their classrooms. Bill Mackenzie, an Upper Grand information and communication technology consultant says that special-needs students are the “tip of the spear for technology, because if it helps them, it will help everybody.” The district now has 15,000 Chromebooks, about one for every two students, and the number continues to increase.
Edmonton Public Schools has nearly 100,000 students. About 25% of students are immigrants or refugees and part of the district’s diverse English Language Learner population. “Equity of access to technology is a challenge, for sure,” says Terry Korte, a supervisor in District Technology. “We try to avoid the fads and stick with the things that make the biggest difference for teachers and their students.” Chromebooks have helped to make that difference in Edmonton since 2012.
The large Alberta district now has over 46,000 Chromebooks, which was the school’s catalyst for moving into the cloud and using G Suite for Education. “Our goal is to have technology in the hands of students when and where they need it,” Korte adds.

Easy access to a world of apps and content

From a teacher’s perspective, Chromebooks help students learn more effectively by giving them access to a world of educational content. “Chromebooks are inherently networked, so students can find their own way to learn specific concepts online,” says Lance Pedersen, a computer and technology studies teacher at Alberta’s McNally School.

At Edmonton’s Queen Elizabeth School, educators take advantage of the myriad of learning opportunities that Chromebooks and G Suite for Education provide, whether they’re teaching French or guitar.

Canada photo #2 (1).JPG
Students at an Edmonton elementary-junior high school code with Makey Makey on Chromebooks

These Canadian districts all cite the similar advantages that make Chromebooks and G Suite for Education the top choice for classrooms across the country. “When it comes to cost, performance, and reliability,” Toronto’s Bradbeer says, “Chromebooks really are in the sweet spot of all three.”

The best hardware, software and AI—together

Today, we introduced our second generation family of consumer hardware products that are coming to Canada, all made by Google: new Pixel phones, Google Home Mini and Max, an all new Pixelbook, Google Pixel Buds, and an updated Daydream View headset. We see tremendous potential for devices to be helpful, make your life easier, and even get better over time when they’re created at the intersection of hardware, software and advanced artificial intelligence (AI). 

Why Google? 
These days many devices—especially smartphones—look and act the same. That means in order to create a meaningful experience for users, we need a different approach. A year ago, Sundar outlined his vision of how AI would change how people would use computers. And in fact, AI is already transforming what Google’s products can do in the real world. For example, swipe typing has been around for a while, but AI lets people use Gboard to swipe-type in two languages at once. Google Maps uses AI to figure out what the parking is like at your destination and suggest alternative spots before you’ve even put your foot on the gas. But, for this wave of computing to reach new breakthroughs, we have to build software and hardware that can bring more of the potential of AI into reality—which is what we’ve set out to do with this year’s new family of products.

Hardware, built from the inside out 
We’ve designed and built our latest hardware products around a few core tenets. First and foremost, we want them to be radically helpful. They’re fast, they’re there when you need them, and they’re simple to use. Second, everything is designed for you, so that the technology doesn’t get in the way and instead blends into your lifestyle. Lastly, by creating hardware with AI at the core, our products can improve over time. They’re constantly getting better and faster through automatic software updates. And they’re designed to learn from you, so you’ll notice features—like the Google Assistant—get smarter and more assistive the more you interact with them.

You’ll see this reflected in our 2017 lineup of new Made by Google products:

  • The Pixel 2 has the best camera of any smartphone, again, along with a gorgeous display and augmented reality capabilities. Pixel owners get unlimited storage for their photos and videos, and an exclusive preview of Google Lens, which uses AI to give you helpful information about the things around you. 
  • Google Home Mini brings the Assistant to more places throughout your home, with a beautiful design that fits anywhere. And Max, which is coming later to Canada, is our biggest and best-sounding Google Home device, powered by the Assistant. And with AI-based Smart Sound, Max has the ability to adapt your audio experience to you—your environment, context, and preferences. 
  • With Pixelbook, we’ve reimagined the laptop as a high-performance Chromebook, with a versatile form factor that works the way you do. It’s the first laptop with the Assistant built in, and the Pixelbook Pen makes the whole experience even smarter. 
  • Our new Pixel Buds combine Google smarts and the best digital sound. You’ll get elegant touch controls that put the Assistant just a tap away, and they’ll even help you communicate in a different language. 
  • The updated Daydream View is the best mobile virtual reality (VR) headset on the market, and the simplest, most comfortable VR experience. 

Assistant, everywhere 
Across all these devices, you can interact with the Google Assistant any way you want—talk to it with your Google Home or your Pixel Buds, squeeze your Pixel 2, or use your Pixelbook’s Assistant key or circle things on your screen with the Pixelbook Pen. Wherever you are, and on any device with the Assistant, you can connect to the information you need and get help with the tasks to get you through your day. No other assistive technology comes close, and it continues to get better every day.

Google’s hardware business is just getting started, and we’re committed to building and investing for the long run. We couldn’t be more excited to introduce you to our second-generation family of products that truly brings together the best of Google software, thoughtfully designed hardware with cutting-edge AI. We hope you enjoy using them as much as we do.

Availability
Here’s some more info on where and when you can get our new hardware in Canada. Visit The Google Store for more info.

  • Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are available for pre-order today, starting at $899, on The Google Store, Bell, Best Buy Canada, Fido, Freedom Mobile, Koodo, Rogers, The Source, TELUS, Tbooth wireless, Walmart, WIRELESSWAVE, Videotron, and Virgin. 
  • Pixel Buds will be available later this year for $219 on The Google Store and Best Buy Canada. 
  • Pixelbook is available in three configurations starting at $1299, so you can choose the processing power, memory and storage you want. The Pixelbook Pen is $129. Both will be available for pre-order today in Canada, with the exception of Quebec, and on sale at The Google Store and select retailers, including Best Buy Canada. We’re working to bring Pixelbook to Quebec in the future. 
  • Google Home Mini is available for pre-order today for $79 on The Google Store, Best Buy Canada and select retailers. 
  • The new Google Daydream View is available for pre-order today for $139 on The Google Store and select retailers. 

Posted by Rick Osterloh, SVP, Hardware

YouTube Pops Up in Montreal!

This week, YouTube opened the doors for our first-ever YouTube Pop-Up Space in Montreal - a temporary incubator that offers creators an opportunity to learn from industry experts, connect with fellow YouTube creators in a collaborative setting and use the latest film equipment to create more ambitious and innovative video content.

Over three days, we’ll host 100+ of the top and rising stars of the local Quebec YouTube community for educational workshops, business development training, networking events and hands-on video production in our fully-stocked studio.


Across Canada, we’re watching more YouTube than ever - in fact, watchtime in Canada has grown 30% over last year. And a recent survey from Ipsos* revealed just how much Quebec in particular loves YouTube, showing that 49% Of Quebec YouTube Users would rather give up alcohol than give up YouTube for a week and 45% of Quebec YouTube Users would rather give up chocolate than give up YouTube for a week!

Quebec is home to a thriving YouTube community, with creators like Emma Verde, Chris Ramsay, PL Cloutier and Lysandre Nadeau growing massive audiences both at home and around the world. Quebecois creators are part of a new generation of Canadian artists who are growing up online and reaching global audiences on YouTube.

YouTube’s open model and global scale dramatically reduce the cost of getting content to international markets. As a result, 90% of views on Canadian channels come from outside of Canada, higher than any other country on the platform. By radically lowering barriers to entry, YouTube has become a powerful platform for creators in Canada to share their voices and their ideas with the world.

YouTube builds interactive communities that allow fans and artists to share, comment and contribute, and our YouTube Spaces are a physical representation of that community phenomenon. We’re committed to helping our Quebec creators continue to grow and thrive as digital entrepreneurs, and we can’t wait to see what they’ll create at YouTube Pop-Up Space Montreal!



*Research conducted by Ipsos on behalf of Google Canada, May 2017

NewsWise — Democracy Demands News Literacy

Editor's note: The below post is guest authored Natalie Turvey, Executive Director of The Canadian Journalism Foundation and Taylor Gunn, President and Chief Election Officer of CIVIX,
The rallying cry of The Canadian Journalism Foundation feels particularly relevant these days:  ‘as journalism goes so goes democracy’.
More than ever, it’s critical that current and future generations understand the role journalism plays in our democracy.  With social media and an abundance of information on numerous platforms, the ways we consume and share news have fundamentally changed.   We need to help Canadians better understand how quality journalism is produced and how to determine which sources of information are reliable.  News literacy skills are essential to this process.
With a $500,000 grant from Google Canada, the CJF is thrilled to be partnering with CIVIX on NewsWise  - a program to provide school aged Canadians with the tools and skills to find and filter accurate information online. The program will reach 1.5 million Canadians (ages 9-19) and the goal is to increase students’ ability to analyze media messages and expand their knowledge about how news is produced.
Canadian students participating in Student Vote programming
NewsWise will be developed by CIVIX, the organization behind Student Vote, and CJF’s network of news leaders, journalists and academics. The program will be a part of the Student Vote activities, rolling out to coincide with the Ontario provincial election in 2018, and other upcoming local and provincial elections, culminating nationally nationally with the 2019 federal election. Student Vote already has programs in 98% of Canadian school boards. CJF will engage Canada’s journalism community in supporting the delivery of the program.
The partnership between the CJF and CIVIX is built on the shared goal that that quality journalism in our country leads to a thriving democracy.
Guest authored by Natalie Turvey Executive Director of The Canadian Journalism Foundation and Taylor Gunn, President and Chief Election Officer of CIVIX

Students, get coding in Montreal!

Today’s guest post is brought to you by Mathieu Perreault and Pierre-Antoine Manzagol, Google Canada software developers and Code MTL advisory board members 

As kids, we both had an early interest in technology. Somehow though, neither of us really got into programming until university. Today, when we visit classrooms to talk about technology, we witness this same interest. Kids don’t simply want to use technology, but are curious about how it all comes together! 


That’s why today, we are proud to help launch Code MTL, a program funded in part by Google Canada that aims to teach Quebec-based students ages 8-12 how to code. Initially, over 3,200 students from 65 schools in the Commission scolaire de Montréal will follow workshops to help them develop their mathematical and coding skills. From drawing blocks in Scratch to debugging computer code, workshops and resources will be available online for all students to access, no matter where they are.

While many kids today have access to all kinds of computers and connected devices, there remains a gap in opportunities for young Canadians to learn how to design and build the technology that is shaping our world. In fact, less than 50 percent of Canadian youth graduate from high school with a senior STEM course, even when 70 percent of today’s jobs require STEM education.

As software developers at Google Canada, we believe that learning these skills will open students’ minds and provide them with the right tools to create and innovate. And it’s not just students who want to work in tech who will benefit! Computer science is a language of creativity, of entrepreneurship, and of potential. Whether you want to be a doctor, an artist, a designer or work in finance, programming skills can help teach you how to think logically and creatively.

To bring this program to life, we worked with La Fondation de la Commission scolaire de Montréal, le Gouvernement du Québec, Ubisoft Montréal, Jeux WB Montréal et Kids Code Jeunesse. The content is available online for everyone today, and students will start the workshops this month.

With Code MTL, we’re invested in supporting future tech innovators grow and work in Quebec. 

Code on, kids!

Posted by Mathieu Perreault and Pierre-Antoine Manzagol, software developers, Google Canada

Feed your need to know (now in Canada!)

As the late, great Dr. Seuss once said, “there is no one alive who is you-er than you.” At Google, we know this statement is truer than true. Sure, we all have many things in common, but none of us has quite the same mix of passions, interests and goals as the next person. And, while we each keep up to date on the things that matter to us in different ways—social media, news apps, talking to friends—it’s hard to find one place to stay in the know about exactly what matters to you. Today that’s changing. People have long turned to Google to get answers, learn about the world, and dig deeper on topics they’re passionate about. Today, we are announcing a new feed experience in the Google app, making it easier than ever to discover, explore and stay connected to what matters to you—even when you don’t have a query in mind. A smart feed that changes with youSince introducing the feed in December, we’ve advanced our machine learning algorithms to better anticipate what’s interesting and important to you. You’ll see cards with things like sports highlights, top news, engaging videos, new music, stories to read and more. And now, your feed will not only be based on your interactions with Google, but also factor in what’s trending in your area and around the world. The more you use Google, the better your feed will be. As the world and your interests change, your feed will continue to grow and evolve along with you. You’ll notice that your feed will also reflect your interest level for various topics—for example, if you’re a photography enthusiast but just casually interested in fitness, your feed will show that. But if you see something that isn’t up your alley, unfollowing topics is easy too. Just tap on a given card in your feed or visit your Google app settings.
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Follow your favouritesWhile we’ve been getting better at understanding your interests, it hasn’t always been easy for you to choose new topics for your feed. To help you keep up with exactly what you care about, you’ll now be able to follow topics, right from Search results. Look out for a new “Follow” button next to certain types of search results—including movies, sports teams, your favorite bands or music artists, famous people, and more. A quick tap of the the follow button and you’ll start getting updates and stories about that topic in your feed.

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Broader context and deeper exploration

To provide information from diverse perspectives, news stories may have multiple viewpoints from a variety of sources, as well as other related information and articles. And when available, you’ll be able to fact check and see other relevant information to help get a more holistic understanding about the topics in your feed. We’re also making it easier to dive deeper into any of the topics you see in your feed. At the top of every card, you’ll see a header that puts your interests front and center, letting you search that topic on Google with one tap.

How to fix a toilet (and other things you couldn’t do without Search)


Every year, millions come to Google to search for news and information that helps illuminate the world around them. While people often search for breaking news, the latest sports scores, or what's playing at a local movie theater, they also often look for answers on how to fix the more mundane items around them.

Recently, we noticed that “how to…” searches have increased by more than 140% since 2004, and much of that search interest is directed towards how to “fix” things—whether it’s a lightbulb, window, washing machine, or even the toilet. In fact, “How to fix…” is consistently near the top of the list of most common queries, year after year, around the world. That’s why the Google Trends team teamed up with award-winning designer Xaquín González Veira —formerly of “The Guardian”, “National Geographic” and “the New York Times”—to create our latest visual: How to fix a toilet...and other things you couldn’t do without Search.

The first data visualization shows household items people ask Google how to fix, and how those searches vary by country. For instance, in the United States, the top “how to fix" items are doors, followed by windows, toilets, washing machines and refrigerators. While in Japan, the order is:  windows, doors, washing machines, and toilets.

Check out the map of the world below, to see how it shifts:


Xaquin noticed some neat (and weird) patterns in the data. Searches for “how to fix a toilet” and “how to use chopsticks” follow a very similar pattern. Wonder why that is? Just check out the site. You’ll be surprised what tops the list in each country and which places need to fix the same things (washing machines in Russia and Columbia and windows in Brazil and Eritrea).

The visual also showcases data for the top searched “how to’s” around the world. The top ten are:

  1. how to tie a tie
  2. how to kiss
  3. how to get pregnant
  4. how to lose weight
  5. how to draw
  6. how to make money
  7. how to make pancakes
  8. how to write a cover letter
  9. how to make french toast
  10. how to lose belly fat

Check out the interactive guide here, to explore more of this fascinating data.


This data visualization is the latest in the Google News Lab’s series of collaborations with designers, working alongside the University of Miami’s Alberto Cairo to re-examine how news designers can tell stories using new types of data (including new sources of Google data)  and by experimenting with new kinds of data visualizations. You can see some more of the projects we’ve launched so far here.

We’ve loaded the top how-to’s data on our GitHub page for you to download and explore. And if you do, tell us more about you’re using the data at [email protected].

The 90s are back…With a Twist! Google Canada’s Back To School Trends

I won’t tell you my age, but I will tell you that I was very aware of what was happening in the 90s.

And it was awesome.

Now I’m a mom, with a young daughter heading back to school and my focus is: How can we, as a family, make this as painless as possible. Like many Canadians, I’m turning to my phone and to Google Search to get a head start on shopping. With all those searches underway, we now have a good idea of what’s trending for parents and students.

The list of what’s hot for Back to School 2017 fashion looks a lot like my wish list back in the 90s - overalls, hoodies, crop tops and flannel shirts are all rising in search interest. Gucci has set the tone for multiple fashion trends over the past few seasons, and that influence continues, with rising search interest for Gucci belts, sunglasses and slides.

Two ultimate 90s accessories are also back in a big way - the much-maligned fanny pack is cool again, and searches for Birkenstocks are at an all-time high. Interestingly, we see a big uptick in searches for “vegan” and “plastic” Birkenstocks.  

And when it comes to back-to-school searches...

Top searched backpack color in the past week, Canada:
  1. Black
  2. Pink
  3. Blue
  4. White
  5. Red

Top searched school supplies in the past week, Canada:
  1. Backpack
  2. Calculator
  3. Pencil
  4. Glue
  5. Pens

Trending questions on school in the past week, Canada:
  1. Where can I buy school workbooks?
  2. How to do cute hairstyles for middle school?
  3. What day does school start?
  4. When do the kids go back to school?
  5. What school will my child attend?

Trending questions on back to school in the past week, Canada:
  1. When do back to school sales start in Canada?
  2. When is back to school?
  3. When does school start?
  4. Why do school supplies cost so much?
  5. How to decorate your locker?

Trending questions on “where to buy” and school in the past week, Canada:
  1. Where to buy school uniforms near me?
  2. Where to buy cute school supplies?
  3. Where to buy uniforms for Catholic school?
  4. Where to buy school bags?
  5. Where to buy school backpacks?

Wishing you and yours a scrunchy-filled stress-free back-to-school shop!

Nicole Bell is a Canadian Googler, Mom and member of the Communications & Public Affairs team