In October ‘23, the Google Bazel team hosted the 7th annual BazelCon, a gathering for the Bazel community and broader Build ecosystem. We welcomed enterprise users and program partners, companies building businesses on top of Bazel, as well as enthusiasts curious to learn more about this space. This year, BazelCon made its debut outside North America and was hosted in the Google Munich office.
BazelCon recap
The Bazel ecosystem is growing. This year, we had over 200 in-person external attendees, over 3K livestream views, and a record number of 120 proposals submitted by the community.
We started the conference with a keynote address by Mícheál Ó Foghlú (Engineering Director at Google), followed by a state-of-the-union address by John Field and Tobias Werth (Engineering Managers at Google).
The Bazel community showcased a series of technical and lightning main-stage talks. To highlight a few:
BMW shared insights into how they released several “Bazel cars”
JetBrains* announced the preview release of their new Bazel plugin for their IDEs
Booking.com walked through their journey of adopting Bazel, thereby reducing CI time from 22 minutes to under 2 minutes and container image size by 80%
In addition to hearing from presenters, conference attendees also had the opportunity to engage with each other in smaller, more interactive forums. Through live Q&A with the Bazel team and several Birds of a Feather sessions on topics ranging from authoring rulesets, to collecting usage data responsibly, to IDE integrations, the Bazel community was able to provide direct feedback to the team and spark productive discussions. Make sure to check out published notes from these sessions.
At BazelCon, we also proudly announced the initial release candidate for Bazel 7, which has since launched.
What’s new in Bazel 7?
Bazel 7 is the latest major release on the long-term support (LTS) track. Many multi-year efforts have landed in this release. For example:
Bzlmod: Bzlmod, Bazel's new modular external dependency management system, is now enabled by default (i.e. --enable_bzlmod defaults to true). If your project doesn't have a MODULE.bazel file, Bazel will create an empty one for you. The old WORKSPACE mechanism will continue to work alongside the new Bzlmod-managed system. Learn more about what’s changed since Bazel 6 and what’s coming up in Bazel 8 and 9.
Build without the Bytes (BwoB): Build without the Bytes for builds using remote execution is now enabled by default (i.e. --remote_download_outputs defaults to toplevel). Bazel will no longer try to download any intermediate outputs from the remote server, but only the outputs of requested top-level targets instead. This significantly improves remote build performance. Learn more about BwoB.
Merged analysis and execution (Skymeld): Project Skymeld aims to improve multi-target build performance by removing the boundary between the analysis and execution phases and allowing targets to be independently executed as soon as their analysis finishes.
Platform-based toolchain resolution for Android and C++: This change helps streamline the toolchain resolution API across all rulesets, obviating the need for language-specific flags. It also removes technical debt by having Android and C++ rules use the same toolchain resolution logic as other rulesets. Full details for Android developers are available in the Android Platforms announcement.
We are thankful to everyone who played a role in making BazelCon ‘23 a big success - speakers, contributors, attendees, the planning committee, and more. We look forward to seeing you again next year!
In the meantime, follow along as we work together towards Bazel 8:
Posted by Karina Govindji Senior Director – LEAD - Global Workforce Diversity, and Noa Havazelet – Head of Google's accelerator programs across Europe and Israel
Applications are also open for underrepresented founders in North America
Artificial intelligence (AI) stands at the forefront of transformative technologies, reshaping industries and redefining the way we live and work. Yet, a closer look at the AI startup ecosystem reveals a stark gender disparity. Women, despite their profound capabilities and innovative prowess, often find themselves navigating a maze of obstacles in their entrepreneurial journey. Despite investment in AI software is booming globally, the venture capital funding problem for women is even more marked. Women-founded startups accounted for only 2.1% of VC deals involving AI startups1. This is a reality that demands attention and action. Globally in 2023, all-women founding teams raised just 3% of all dollars invested in the year, with mixed gender founding teams taking 15%, leaving 82% of dollars to flow to founding teams that are all men2.
The Google for Startups Accelerator: Women Founders program (Europe & Israel) provides a comprehensive mix of mentorship, technical support, and workshops, establishing a robust foundation for participants. Beyond Google's expert guidance, the accelerator cultivates a collaborative network among women founders, propelling innovation within the tech startup space. By empowering women founders, the Google for Startups Accelerator: Women Founders program (Europe & Israel) proactively contributes to creating a more inclusive and equitable tech community.
Applications for the Google for Startups Accelerator: Women Founders Europe & Israel program are open until January 19th, 2024. You can learn more and apply here.
In a similar vein, in North America, two other Google for Startups Accelerator programs for underrepresented founders have opened applications for the fifth Women Founders and Black Founders programs. These 10 week equity- free programs are best suited for Seed to Series A, high potential revenue generative women-led and black-led startups with growing teams (5+ employees). Applications for both programs close on February 1st, 2024.
To further explore these opportunities and why you should apply - listen to what past participants of the North American Women Founder and Black Founder programs have to say here.
Posted by Lyanne Alfaro, DevRel Program Manager, Google Developer Studio
Developer Journey is a monthly series highlighting diverse and global developers sharing relatable challenges, opportunities, and wins in their journey. Every month, we will spotlight developers around the world, the Google tools they leverage, and the kinds of products they are building.
This month we speak with global Google Developer Experts in Firebase, Women Techmakers, and beyond, to learn more about their favorite Google tools, the applications they’ve built to serve diverse communities, and their best advice for anyone just getting started as a developer.
Google Analytics and Firebase's A/B testing features have been pivotal in our data-driven approach, enabling continuous improvement in our conversion strategies. More recently, Bard has become a significant asset in developing new products and in our educational endeavors, especially with the introduction of our AI course. Its utility in both product development and educational settings is profound.
Which tool has been your favorite to use? Why?
If I had to choose, it would be Google Ads. Its ability to consistently drive new customers and provide unparalleled visibility to quality products is unmatched. While it may not traditionally be considered a 'tool' in the strictest sense, its impact on business growth and visibility is indisputable.
Please share with us about something you’ve built in the past using Google tools.
My entire business, Mercatitlán, has been built and scaled using Google Tools. We have cultivated a community of over 40,000 paid students, educating them on effective use of Google Ads, leveraging Bard for enhanced website content, and employing Google Analytics for strategic A/B testing to boost sales. The transformational impact of these tools on both my business and my students' ventures is a testament to their potential.
What will you create with Google Bard?
The integration of Bard AI into our daily operations is revolutionizing the way we approach digital marketing. Beyond its current uses in social media content creation, ad ideas generation, email composition, and customer support enhancement, we're exploring several innovative applications:
Personalized Marketing Campaigns: Using Bard AI, we can analyze customer data and preferences to create highly personalized marketing campaigns. This helps in delivering more relevant content to our audience, thereby increasing engagement and conversion rates.
Competitive Analysis: By analyzing competitor data, Bard AI can help us understand their strategies, strengths, and weaknesses. This intelligence is crucial for refining our marketing approach and differentiating our brand in the marketplace.
Content Optimization for SEO: Bard can assist in optimizing website and blog content for search engines. By understanding and integrating key SEO principles, it can help us rank higher in search results, thus improving our online visibility.
Automated Reporting and Insights: Automating the generation of marketing reports and insights with Bard saves time and resources, allowing our team to focus on strategy and creativity rather than manual data analysis.
What advice would you give someone starting in their developer journey?
The key is to start with action rather than waiting for perfection. Adopt a mindset focused on experimentation and analytics. This approach allows you to follow data-driven insights rather than solely relying on innovation, leading to significant societal impact through technology.
I have used a variety of Firebase services to build LINE chatbots for a number of years. These services have included Cloud Functions, Cloud Firestore, Cloud Storage, Firebase Hosting, and etc. Recently I have also used the PaLM API, a very powerful tool that allows me to build Generative AI chatbots.
Which tool has been your favorite to use? Why?
Firebase is my favorite tool because it is a platform that provides a complete set of tools for building and managing mobile, web, and chatbots. It is very easy to use and has a wide range of features that make it a great choice for developers of all levels. Furthermore, Firebase services have allowed me to scale my chatbots and make them more reliable.
Please share with us about something you’ve built in the past using Google tools.
LINE Developers TH is a chatbot that allows Thai developers to learn about LINE APIs and get started with building services. It also provides users with the ability to try out demos of LINE APIs.
TrueMoney is a wallet app that I have built in the past using Firebase. The app allows users to store money, send money, and pay bills. It is a very popular app in Thailand, with over 10 million users.
Sanook is an app that allows users to access news, articles, and other content from the number one web portal in Thailand on their mobile devices.
What will you create with Google Bard?
I would like to create a use case of building a powerful LINE chatbot using PaLM API and Firebase for developers. I believe this will be a great way to showcase the power of these tools and how they can be used to create innovative solutions.
What advice would you give someone starting in their developer journey?
First and foremost, I would encourage them to be curious and always be willing to learn new things. The world of technology is constantly changing, so it's important to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and technologies. This can be done by reading articles, attending conferences, and taking online courses.
Secondly, I would recommend that they find a mentor or role model who can help guide them on their journey. Having someone who has been through the process can be invaluable in providing support and advice. They can help you identify areas where you need to improve, and provide you with tips and tricks for success.
Finally, I would encourage them to never give up. The road to becoming a developer can be challenging, but it's also incredibly rewarding. If you're passionate about technology, then don't let anything stop you from pursuing your dreams.
I would say Firebase! It helped me to build web apps and explore new technologies easily while saving a lot of time and resources. Additionally, a lot of functionalities have been added recently. Over the years, I've witnessed its evolution, with the addition of numerous functionalities that continually enhance its utility and user experience. This constant innovation within Firebase not only simplifies complex tasks but also opens doors to creative possibilities in web app development.
Please share with us about something you’ve built in the past using Google tools.
I've been leading a project in partnership with the United Nations to help share information about its worldwide global goals. We used Firebase hosting and Cloud functions for the first release of the web app and it was a success! It felt very good to help create tools that support a good cause.
What will you create with Google Bard?
I'm experimenting with the current extensions to improve personal productivity. It's very interesting how you can improve the way that you do your daily tasks.
What advice would you give someone starting in their developer journey?
Remember that as a developer you will have the power to create! Use this power to build personal projects and combine it with things that you enjoy. You will start building a portfolio and have fun while learning. Finally, don't hesitate to find a mentor and connect with a community of developers to support and guidance in your journey. You can find a lot of help, improve your networking, and even have friends for life!
Join us virtually from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm PT for an immersive and insightful set of deep dives for every level of Machine Learning experience.
The Women in ML Symposium is an inclusive event for anyone passionate about the transformative fields of Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Meet this year’s women in ML as they uncover practical applications across multiple industries and discuss the latest advancements in frameworks, generative AI, and more.
Joana Carrasqueira, presenter for “Enabling Anyone to Build with Google AI”
Joana is a Developer Relations Lead for AI/ML at Google and her mission is to empower individuals and organizations to harness the power of AI to address real-world challenges.
She is a business leader with a track record of bringing strategic vision and global cross-functional programs to life. She’s also the creator of Google’s Women in ML program and flagship symposium, a pioneering initiative that has equipped thousands of developers with knowledge and skills in AI/ML.
Prior to Google, she worked at the Silicon Valley Innovation Center on innovation consulting for Forbes top500, startups and Venture Capital firms. Served as Education Manager at the International Pharmaceutical Federation, working closely with WHO, UNESCO, the United Nations and started her career at the Portuguese Pharmaceutical Society.
Joana holds an MBA from IE Business School, a Master in Pharmaceutical Sciences and a Leadership Certificate from U.C. Berkeley in California.
Sharbani Roy, presenter for “What’s New in Machine Learning?”
Sharbani is Sr. Director in Google’s Core Machine Learning group.
Before joining Google, Sharbani led engineering and product teams in Amazon Alexa, focused on media streaming, real-time communication, and applied ML (e.g., NLU, CV, and AR) for 1P/3P developers and end consumers.
Sharbani holds degrees in physics and mathematics from the University of Chicago and an MBA from Stanford University, and lives in Seattle with her husband and three children.
Eve Phillips, presenter for “Future of Frameworks: Navigate the OSS Landscape"
Eve is a Director of Product Management at Google.
Currently, Eve leads the ML Frameworks product team, which includes responsibility for TensorFlow, JAX and Keras. Previously, she led product teams within Google for Clinicians and ChromeOS. Prior to Google, she served as CEO of Empower Interactive, delivering tech-enabled behavioral health.
Earlier, she held roles in leading technology companies and investors including Trilogy, Microsoft, and Greylock.
Eve earned a BS and M.Eng in EECS from MIT and an MBA from Stanford.
Meenu Gaba, presenter for “Data-Centric AI: A New Paradigm"
Meenu leads the Machine Learning infrastructure team at Google, with a mission to power AI innovation with world-class ML infrastructure and services.
She is a technology leader with years of experience launching new products and growing small teams into mature scalable, multi-tiered organizations that are poised to deliver high quality products. Meenu enjoys fast-paced, dynamic, highly iterative/innovative environments and has lots of experience in balancing these disciplines while fostering a people-first culture and forming solid grounds for cross-functional relationships.
Meenu holds a Master's degree in Computer Science. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, solving crosswords, and watching movies.
Kelly Shaefer, presenter for “Maximize Your Data Exploration”
Kelly leads product teams at Google Labs, building both entirely new AI products and AI-enabled features into Google's largest existing products.
In the past, she led the Growth team for Google Workspace, including Gmail, Drive, Docs, and many more.
Outside of Google, she led the Enterprise product team at Stripe and was the P&L owner for Stripe's multi-billion dollar Payments area.
Kelly has an undergraduate degree from Wharton at UPenn, and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Divyashree Sreepathihalli, presenter for “Keras: Shortcut to AI Mastery”
Divya is a talented machine learning software engineer who is currently a part of the Keras team at Google.
In this role, she specializes in developing Keras core modeling APIs and KerasCV to improve the functionality of the software.
Prior to joining Google, Divya worked as a Deep Learning Scientist for Zazu Sensor, a startup group in Intel's Emerging Growth Incubation (EGI) group. Her work there focused on computer vision and deep learning algorithm development for object detection and tracking, resulting in significant advancements for the startup.
Divya completed her Masters in Computer Engineering from Texas A&M University where she focused on Artificial intelligence in 2017.
Na Li, presenter for “Prototype ML with Visual Blocks”
Na Li is a software engineer manager from Google CoreML.
She leads a team to build developer tools to support ML development journey, from prototyping to model visualization and benchmarking.
Prior to Google, she was a research scientist at Harvard, working in HCI domain.
Throughout her career, Na strives to make ML accessible for everyone.
Zoe Wang, presenter for “Deploying ML Models to Mobile Devices”
Zoe is a technical program manager at Google.
Her career has been focused on Machine Learning (ML) productionization.
Currently she works with her team bringing ML models to mobile devices that power some of AI features for Pixel and other edge devices.
Prior to Google, Zoe worked at Meta on ML Platforms for end-to-end ML lifecycles.
Yvonne Li, presenter for “New GenAI Products and Solutions on Google Cloud”
Yvonne Li is a software engineer on the Duet Platform team at Google, where she focuses on improving the quality of generative AI models.
As a machine learning engineer and developer advocate at IBM, she designed and developed language models and curated open source datasets.
She has over 3 years of experience in the big tech industry, and is passionate about using machine learning to solve real-world problems.
Yvonne is the author of two Coursera courses: Data Analysis with R, and, Data Visualization with R.
Nithya Natesan, presenter for “AI-powered Infrastructure: Cloud TPUs”
Nithya Natesan is a Group Product Manager in the Cloud ML Accelerators team focussing on GPU / TPU offerings for Google Cloud.
Prior to Google, she was head of product management at NVIDIA, launching several products like DGX Cloud, Base Command Platform.
She has ~14 years of experience in hyper convergence Data Center software products, with recent focus on ML / AI Infra and Platform products. She is passionate about building rock solid PM teams, and shipping high quality usable ML / AI products.
Andrada Vulpe, presenter for “Community Matters: 8 Reasons Why You Should Be Involved with Kaggle”
Andrada is a Data Scientist at Endava, a Notebooks Grandmaster on Kaggle, a Dev Expert at Weights and Biases and a proud Z by HP Data Science Global Ambassador.
She is highly passionate about Python, R, Machine and Deep Learning, powerful visualizations and everything in between.
Andrada finished her MSc in Data Science and Analytics in the UK and won 2 Kaggle Analytics competitions.
Jeehae Lee, presenter for “From Recovering Pro Golfer to AI Entrepreneur”
Jeehae Lee is a golf industry executive who has worked to create and build transformational sports technology businesses.
As the Co-Founder & CEO of Sportsbox AI, Jeehae is currently developing products using AI-enabled 3D motion analysis technology that will help participants of various sports and fitness activities learn and improve their skills.
Before founding Sportsbox, she spent five years between 2015 and 2020 at Topgolf Entertainment Group, leading strategy and new business development for various divisions including Toptracer. Between 2012 and 2013, she was at global sports and entertainment marketing agency, IMG, representing professional golfer icon Michelle Wie West. Prior to her career in sports business, she played professional golf at the highest level in the sport, competing on the LPGA tour for three years between 2009 and 2011.
Jeehae is a proud graduate of Phillips Academy in Andover, MA, and has a BA in Economics from Yale and an MBA from The Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania.
Jingwan (Cynthia) Lu, panelist for “The Impact of Generative AI in Different Industries”
Cynthia is a senior director from Adobe leading an applied research organization focusing on developing the Adobe Firefly family of GenAI models built from the ground up.
Her team started training Adobe’s first large-scale foundational model and helped rally together the rest of the company to roll out a new web-based product called Firefly featuring the image generation model as the first step in early 2023.
The same technology and its extension power Adobe Photoshop’s Generative Fill and Generative Expand features giving users intelligent image inpainting and outpainting experience. Time recognizes Adobe Photoshop Generative Fill and Generative Expand as best inventions of 2023 in the AI category.
Before Firefly, Jingwan was a computer vision research scientist and team lead who pioneered and led a large group effort to explore early generative models such as GANs within Adobe.
Wei Xiao, panelist for “The Impact of Generative AI in Different Industries”
Wei is the Director of Developer Relations at NVIDIA for the Middle East, Africa, and emerging regions. Her primary focus is to drive AI and accelerated computing integration within the ecosystem.
Before assuming her current role, Wei Xiao headed Ecosystem Engineering and Evangelism teams at both ARM and Samsung Semiconductor.
In addition to her professional endeavors, Wei dedicates her free time to teaching AI courses at the Graduate School of Computer Science at Santa Clara University.
Priya Mathur, panelist for “The Impact of Generative AI in Different Industries”
Priya is a Staff Data Science Manager at Google and she is the founder of Sparkle – GenAI Data Analyst.
At Google, she leads Data Science for Home Platform Monetization and GenAI efforts for DSPA.
Previously at Groupon, she led Data Science for App Push Notifications and TV Ads.
Katherine Chou, panelist for “The Impact of Generative AI in Different Industries”
Katherine is the Senior Director of Research and Innovations at Google with a specific focus on nurturing scientific and technical breakthroughs that can lead to global impact for science, health, climate, and advancement of platform technologies for our developers and researchers.
Katherine is focused on improving the availability and accuracy of healthcare using machine learning. She is a serial intrapreneur, particularly interested in removing health inequities and improving health and well-being outcomes across all populations.
She previously developed products within Google[x] Labs for Life Sciences (now Verily) and co-founded Medical Brain (now “Health AI'') at Google. She also headed up global teams to develop partner solutions and establish developer ecosystems for Mobile Payments, Mobile Search, GeoCommerce, YouTube, and Android.
Outside of Google, she is a Board member and Program Chair of Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, a Scientific Advisor to the ARCS Foundation, a fellow of the Zoological Society of London, and collaborates with other wildlife NGOs and the Cambridge Business Sustainability Programme in applying the Silicon Valley innovation mindset to new areas.
Katherine holds a double major in Computer Science and Economics at Stanford University and an M.S. in CS specialized in graphics.
Jaimie Hwang, presenter for “Take Action, Learn More, Start Building with Google AI”
Jaimie Hwang is a global product marketing leader with over a decade of experience, specifically in AI/ML.
She has built and led global product marketing teams at a number of AI companies, including an award-winning computer vision startup and tech giant Amazon.
She specializes in executive thought leadership, product storytelling, and integrated GTM strategy. She is passionate about promoting AI technology that is built responsibly and solves real-world problems in a human-centric way.
Jaimie holds a BS in Journalism and Integrated Marketing and Communications from Northwestern University. She lives in Seattle, Washington.
Save your spot at WiML Symposium 2023
The Women in ML Symposium offers sessions for all expertise levels, from beginners to advanced practitioners. RSVP today to secure your spot and explore our comprehensive agenda. We can’t wait to see you there!
Join us virtually from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm PT for an immersive and insightful set of deep dives for every level of Machine Learning experience.
The Women in ML Symposium is an inclusive event for anyone passionate about the transformative fields of Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Meet this year’s women in ML as they uncover practical applications across multiple industries and discuss the latest advancements in frameworks, generative AI, and more.
Joana Carrasqueira, presenter for “Enabling Anyone to Build with Google AI”
Joana is a Developer Relations Lead for AI/ML at Google and her mission is to empower individuals and organizations to harness the power of AI to address real-world challenges.
She is a business leader with a track record of bringing strategic vision and global cross-functional programs to life. She’s also the creator of Google’s Women in ML program and flagship symposium, a pioneering initiative that has equipped thousands of developers with knowledge and skills in AI/ML.
Prior to Google, she worked at the Silicon Valley Innovation Center on innovation consulting for Forbes top500, startups and Venture Capital firms. Served as Education Manager at the International Pharmaceutical Federation, working closely with WHO, UNESCO, the United Nations and started her career at the Portuguese Pharmaceutical Society.
Joana holds an MBA from IE Business School, a Master in Pharmaceutical Sciences and a Leadership Certificate from U.C. Berkeley in California.
Sharbani Roy, presenter for “What’s New in Machine Learning?”
Sharbani is Sr. Director in Google’s Core Machine Learning group.
Before joining Google, Sharbani led engineering and product teams in Amazon Alexa, focused on media streaming, real-time communication, and applied ML (e.g., NLU, CV, and AR) for 1P/3P developers and end consumers.
Sharbani holds degrees in physics and mathematics from the University of Chicago and an MBA from Stanford University, and lives in Seattle with her husband and three children.
Eve Phillips, presenter for “Future of Frameworks: Navigate the OSS Landscape"
Eve is a Director of Product Management at Google.
Currently, Eve leads the ML Frameworks product team, which includes responsibility for TensorFlow, JAX and Keras. Previously, she led product teams within Google for Clinicians and ChromeOS. Prior to Google, she served as CEO of Empower Interactive, delivering tech-enabled behavioral health.
Earlier, she held roles in leading technology companies and investors including Trilogy, Microsoft, and Greylock.
Eve earned a BS and M.Eng in EECS from MIT and an MBA from Stanford.
Meenu Gaba, presenter for “Data-Centric AI: A New Paradigm"
Meenu leads the Machine Learning infrastructure team at Google, with a mission to power AI innovation with world-class ML infrastructure and services.
She is a technology leader with years of experience launching new products and growing small teams into mature scalable, multi-tiered organizations that are poised to deliver high quality products. Meenu enjoys fast-paced, dynamic, highly iterative/innovative environments and has lots of experience in balancing these disciplines while fostering a people-first culture and forming solid grounds for cross-functional relationships.
Meenu holds a Master's degree in Computer Science. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, solving crosswords, and watching movies.
Kelly Shaefer, presenter for “Maximize Your Data Exploration”
Kelly leads product teams at Google Labs, building both entirely new AI products and AI-enabled features into Google's largest existing products.
In the past, she led the Growth team for Google Workspace, including Gmail, Drive, Docs, and many more.
Outside of Google, she led the Enterprise product team at Stripe and was the P&L owner for Stripe's multi-billion dollar Payments area.
Kelly has an undergraduate degree from Wharton at UPenn, and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Divyashree Sreepathihalli, presenter for “Keras: Shortcut to AI Mastery”
Divya is a talented machine learning software engineer who is currently a part of the Keras team at Google.
In this role, she specializes in developing Keras core modeling APIs and KerasCV to improve the functionality of the software.
Prior to joining Google, Divya worked as a Deep Learning Scientist for Zazu Sensor, a startup group in Intel's Emerging Growth Incubation (EGI) group. Her work there focused on computer vision and deep learning algorithm development for object detection and tracking, resulting in significant advancements for the startup.
Divya completed her Masters in Computer Engineering from Texas A&M University where she focused on Artificial intelligence in 2017.
Na Li, presenter for “Prototype ML with Visual Blocks”
Na Li is a software engineer manager from Google CoreML.
She leads a team to build developer tools to support ML development journey, from prototyping to model visualization and benchmarking.
Prior to Google, she was a research scientist at Harvard, working in HCI domain.
Throughout her career, Na strives to make ML accessible for everyone.
Zoe Wang, presenter for “Deploying ML Models to Mobile Devices”
Zoe is a technical program manager at Google.
Her career has been focused on Machine Learning (ML) productionization.
Currently she works with her team bringing ML models to mobile devices that power some of AI features for Pixel and other edge devices.
Prior to Google, Zoe worked at Meta on ML Platforms for end-to-end ML lifecycles.
Yvonne Li, presenter for “New GenAI Products and Solutions on Google Cloud”
Yvonne Li is a software engineer on the Duet Platform team at Google, where she focuses on improving the quality of generative AI models.
As a machine learning engineer and developer advocate at IBM, she designed and developed language models and curated open source datasets.
She has over 3 years of experience in the big tech industry, and is passionate about using machine learning to solve real-world problems.
Yvonne is the author of two Coursera courses: Data Analysis with R, and, Data Visualization with R.
Nithya Natesan, presenter for “AI-powered Infrastructure: Cloud TPUs”
Nithya Natesan is a Group Product Manager in the Cloud ML Accelerators team focussing on GPU / TPU offerings for Google Cloud.
Prior to Google, she was head of product management at NVIDIA, launching several products like DGX Cloud, Base Command Platform.
She has ~14 years of experience in hyper convergence Data Center software products, with recent focus on ML / AI Infra and Platform products. She is passionate about building rock solid PM teams, and shipping high quality usable ML / AI products.
Andrada Vulpe, presenter for “Community Matters: 8 Reasons Why You Should Be Involved with Kaggle”
Andrada is a Data Scientist at Endava, a Notebooks Grandmaster on Kaggle, a Dev Expert at Weights and Biases and a proud Z by HP Data Science Global Ambassador.
She is highly passionate about Python, R, Machine and Deep Learning, powerful visualizations and everything in between.
Andrada finished her MSc in Data Science and Analytics in the UK and won 2 Kaggle Analytics competitions.
Jeehae Lee, presenter for “From Recovering Pro Golfer to AI Entrepreneur”
Jeehae Lee is a golf industry executive who has worked to create and build transformational sports technology businesses.
As the Co-Founder & CEO of Sportsbox AI, Jeehae is currently developing products using AI-enabled 3D motion analysis technology that will help participants of various sports and fitness activities learn and improve their skills.
Before founding Sportsbox, she spent five years between 2015 and 2020 at Topgolf Entertainment Group, leading strategy and new business development for various divisions including Toptracer. Between 2012 and 2013, she was at global sports and entertainment marketing agency, IMG, representing professional golfer icon Michelle Wie West. Prior to her career in sports business, she played professional golf at the highest level in the sport, competing on the LPGA tour for three years between 2009 and 2011.
Jeehae is a proud graduate of Phillips Academy in Andover, MA, and has a BA in Economics from Yale and an MBA from The Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania.
Jingwan (Cynthia) Lu, panelist for “The Impact of Generative AI in Different Industries”
Cynthia is a senior director from Adobe leading an applied research organization focusing on developing the Adobe Firefly family of GenAI models built from the ground up.
Her team started training Adobe’s first large-scale foundational model and helped rally together the rest of the company to roll out a new web-based product called Firefly featuring the image generation model as the first step in early 2023.
The same technology and its extension power Adobe Photoshop’s Generative Fill and Generative Expand features giving users intelligent image inpainting and outpainting experience. Time recognizes Adobe Photoshop Generative Fill and Generative Expand as best inventions of 2023 in the AI category.
Before Firefly, Jingwan was a computer vision research scientist and team lead who pioneered and led a large group effort to explore early generative models such as GANs within Adobe.
Wei Xiao, panelist for “The Impact of Generative AI in Different Industries”
Wei is the Director of Developer Relations at NVIDIA for the Middle East, Africa, and emerging regions. Her primary focus is to drive AI and accelerated computing integration within the ecosystem.
Before assuming her current role, Wei Xiao headed Ecosystem Engineering and Evangelism teams at both ARM and Samsung Semiconductor.
In addition to her professional endeavors, Wei dedicates her free time to teaching AI courses at the Graduate School of Computer Science at Santa Clara University.
Priya Mathur, panelist for “The Impact of Generative AI in Different Industries”
Priya is a Staff Data Science Manager at Google and she is the founder of Sparkle – GenAI Data Analyst.
At Google, she leads Data Science for Home Platform Monetization and GenAI efforts for DSPA.
Previously at Groupon, she led Data Science for App Push Notifications and TV Ads.
Katherine Chou, panelist for “The Impact of Generative AI in Different Industries”
Katherine is the Senior Director of Research and Innovations at Google with a specific focus on nurturing scientific and technical breakthroughs that can lead to global impact for science, health, climate, and advancement of platform technologies for our developers and researchers.
Katherine is focused on improving the availability and accuracy of healthcare using machine learning. She is a serial intrapreneur, particularly interested in removing health inequities and improving health and well-being outcomes across all populations.
She previously developed products within Google[x] Labs for Life Sciences (now Verily) and co-founded Medical Brain (now “Health AI'') at Google. She also headed up global teams to develop partner solutions and establish developer ecosystems for Mobile Payments, Mobile Search, GeoCommerce, YouTube, and Android.
Outside of Google, she is a Board member and Program Chair of Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, a Scientific Advisor to the ARCS Foundation, a fellow of the Zoological Society of London, and collaborates with other wildlife NGOs and the Cambridge Business Sustainability Programme in applying the Silicon Valley innovation mindset to new areas.
Katherine holds a double major in Computer Science and Economics at Stanford University and an M.S. in CS specialized in graphics.
Jaimie Hwang, presenter for “Take Action, Learn More, Start Building with Google AI”
Jaimie Hwang is a global product marketing leader with over a decade of experience, specifically in AI/ML.
She has built and led global product marketing teams at a number of AI companies, including an award-winning computer vision startup and tech giant Amazon.
She specializes in executive thought leadership, product storytelling, and integrated GTM strategy. She is passionate about promoting AI technology that is built responsibly and solves real-world problems in a human-centric way.
Jaimie holds a BS in Journalism and Integrated Marketing and Communications from Northwestern University. She lives in Seattle, Washington.
Save your spot at WiML Symposium 2023
The Women in ML Symposium offers sessions for all expertise levels, from beginners to advanced practitioners. RSVP today to secure your spot and explore our comprehensive agenda. We can’t wait to see you there!
Posted by Kevin Hernandez, Developer Relations Community Manager
For Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we are celebrating Shrutirupa Banerjiee, Web GDE.
The web can be an excellent tool to learn a new skill, connect with people all over the world, digest information, or use new technologies such as Google Bard. However, there can be threats that loom whenever you go online - malware and social engineering attacks (also known as phishing) are some examples of today’s cyber attacks that can steal data or gain access to your system. Luckily, we have people like Shrutirupa Banerjiee, Web GDE, working on ways to keep companies and individuals safe from these threats. Shrutirupa got her start in the field by way of Blockchain security and eventually transitioned into a malware research role as a Senior Security Researcher. As an advocate for cybersecurity, Shrutirupa shares what threats are facing us today and what steps we can take to keep ourselves safe.
Shrutirupa Banerjiee, Google Developer Expert, Web
Threats facing the web today
Shrutirupa is mostly concerned with malware and especially those that bide their time and sit in your systems for months and sometimes even for years. She describes, “These attacks get into your system and sit there for months while you’re unable to identify that there is any kind of malware or malicious program. When you’ve already gained trust, it will start connecting with the malicious servers.” A recent example of this type of attack was the SolarWinds attack. With this case, hackers were able to gain unauthorized access to the SolarWinds network in 2019, injected their malicious code into the SolarWinds software in February of 2020, and in March of 2020 SolarWinds unknowingly pushed a software update which included the malicious code (source: NPR). This malware was downloaded by 18,000 customers, compromising the data of companies and government agencies which included the Treasury and the Pentagon.
One mission that Shrutirupa is actively working towards is bridging the gap between developers and cybersecurity professionals. By being made aware of the new threats that face the web, developers can actively safeguard companies and consumers from malware attacks.
How you can stay safe online
Shrutirupa recommends the following to help prevent data breaches or attacks on our systems:
Think before you click: Be aware of anything that you’re downloading and do your proper research on the source of the software. You can see what others are saying about the software on community sites like Quora or Reddit.
Software updates: Make sure your software updates are up-to-date since these contain patches.
Antivirus scanners: There are many free options that you can add to your computer and use to run regular scans to ensure that your system is running safely.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): This method allows you to have an extra layer of security when logging onto sites and notifies you of unauthorized logins.
Developers and researchers working together: Consult cybersecurity professionals like Shrutirupa! Cybersecurity professionals are on top of new threats and can make you aware of what you should prioritize as a developer.
Shrutirupa has also been able to leverage Google technologies and the GDE program in order to educate and test in a safe environment. “Google provides me with an environment where I can mentor students who want to get into cybersecurity or want to do development in a secure way. Google also has resources like Google Cloud Platform where you can practice and test everything while learning,” she says.
With people of all ages accessing the internet, Cybersecurity Awareness Month is crucial and Shrutirupa believes that awareness of threats should be a regular occurrence due to the importance of it. She states, “We have children, parents, and grandparents all accessing the internet. Because of this, we should always be vigilant about what we’re downloading and understand previous and new cybersecurity attacks so we can prevent them.”
The Google Developer Experts (GDE) program is a global network of highly experienced technology experts, influencers, and thought leaders who actively support developers, companies, and tech communities by speaking at events and publishing content.
Posted by Lyanne Alfaro, DevRel Program Manager, Google Developer Studio
Developer Journey is a monthly series highlighting diverse and global developers sharing relatable challenges, opportunities, and wins in their journey. Every month, we will spotlight developers around the world, the Google tools they leverage, and the kind of products they are building.
This month we speak with global developers across Google Developer Experts, Google Developer Groups, and beyond to learn more about their favorite Google tools, the applications they’ve built to serve diverse communities and the role of inclusive design in their process.
I use Lighthouse and Google PageSpeed Insights to audit my application's performance and check my accessibility score. I can learn a lot about my application users and measure their engagement through Google Analytics. I have also used: Angular, Angular Dev tools, Firebase, TensorFlow and some services through Google Cloud Platform.
Which tool has been your favorite to use? Why?
On a daily basis I use Angular to develop my web applications. It helped me develop web applications faster with less code, less debugging time, and high scalability. The Angular CLI automates a lot of tasks, including the upgrade process, which saves a lot of time.
Please share with us about something you’ve built in the past using Google tools.
I have built a lot of web apps and progressive web apps using Angular, Firebase and TensorFlow in various fields from insurance, to banking, retail and education.
What will you create with Google Bard?
I'm planning on creating a blog using Google Bard and to generate content in different languages and enable some search and updates for content.
What role does inclusive design play in your development process?
Accessibility is no longer an option today. It is as important as other development goals and should be automated in the development process using the right tools.
What advice would you give someone starting in their developer journey?
Here’s a few pieces of advice for other professionals:
Invest in learning as much as you can and always practice the technologies you learn.
Don't forget that practice makes perfect.
Join developer communities and get a mentor; you will learn a lot and receive a lot of help.
Try to keep up with new technologies and trends that will open new perspectives for you.
You’ll probably make some mistakes. Be willing to accept it and learn from it.
Firebase is my favorite. I like how Firebase has simplified things by providing a Backend as Service. You no longer need to manage your own servers, worry about scalability, or other Backend complexities.
Please share with us about something you’ve built in the past using Google tools.
I have built some private ERP apps that help small local traders to manage their business (stock management, finance and hotels).
What will you create with Google Bard?
I always use Bard for guidance to document and test code. I hope to use it for more projects in the future.
What role does inclusive design play in your development process?
The role of a designer in the development process is so important to me. Not only does it allow me to arrange the elements well on the screen, but it also ensures that the application is accessible to users living with disabilities. The designer also knows how to choose colors, contrasts and hierarchy of different elements.
How do you prioritize accessibility alongside other development goals?
Accessibility is a priority for me when creating an app or product. I consider accessibility at every stage of the development process. I use a variety of tools and resources to ensure my apps are accessible to everyone, including people with visual impairments, hearing impairments, motor disabilities and cognitive disabilities.
What advice would you give someone starting in their developer journey?
My advice is: Choose your path and stick to it because there are several distractions from the trends of new technologies on social media especially on Twitter. Don't skip the steps; learn the fundamentals. It's important because even to improve a prompt with generative AI, you need to have a solid understanding in your field.
Android Studio is my daily tool. I have used other tools or frameworks (like Firebase or TensorFlow) in the past as well. My choice of tool depends on the needs of the project I am currently engaged with.
Which tool has been your favorite to use? Why?
Android Studio is my absolute favorite, which is not a surprise for an Android Developer.
Please share with us about something you’ve built in the past using Google tools.
I have worked in many apps and frameworks in the past. The Deutsche Bahn (German Train) application, a Corona app for the Arab Emirates, the app for Alibaba couriers in Vietnam, and now the Google Maps library for Compose.
What will you create with Google Bard?
Bard and other tools like ChatGPT help me with the development of apps and software in general. I do feel they are not yet ready to significantly impact the development process. They still suffer from many inaccuracies and hallucinations.
How do you prioritize accessibility alongside other development goals?
Much less than I would actually like to. Often companies are on a budget and some important things tend to get deprioritized. As a developer (and consultant) my role is to advise them, and A11y is one of the main topics that tend to be underrated.
For instance, do you know that approximately 20% of the users in Switzerland have some form of disability, and can benefit from apps with accessibility integrated? I was really surprised when I heard this number, and I am fairly confident most people don't know about it. If there were more awareness, apps would benefit more from A11y practices.
What advice would you give someone starting in their developer journey?
For new developers: ask all the questions. Never leave a room with a doubt or a question and without an answer. Even more senior people do not have all the answers all the time, and the only way to know if they do is to ask questions. Do not feel embarrassed by raising your hand in a meeting. Ask all the questions you need. The quality of your life will be determined by the quality of your questions.
Posted by Kevin Hernandez, Developer Relations Community Manager
For Hispanic Heritage Month, we are celebrating Henry Ruiz, Machine Learning GDE, and Latin American and Hispanic developer voices.
Henry Ruiz, Machine Learning GDE, originally had aspirations of becoming a soccer player in his home country of Colombia, but when his brother got injured he knew that he had to have a backup plan. With a love for video games, Henry decided to pursue an education in development and eventually discovered the world of computer science.
Today, Henry is a Computer Scientist, working as a Research Specialist (Data Scientist) at Texas A&M AgriLife Research and finishing his Ph.D. in Engineering at Texas A&M University.
Henry, who barely spoke English before immigrating to the United States, has now progressed to the point of preparing to defend his PhD, thanks to the assistance of the Hispanic community.
As a first-generation college student in the United States, Henry was looking for a community where he could feel connected. He received a lot of support from international students and mentions that he always received a warm welcome specifically from the Hispanic community. Joining different clubs on campus, Henry connected with others through food and shared experiences and they served as a support system for one another by creating study groups. Through these connections, he began to notice the impact of developers from Latin America which deeply inspired him. Henry reflects, “We are considered a minority and don’t always have the same opportunities that developed countries have. So we have to be creative and put in an extra effort. So to see these stories of minority developers making an impact on the world is very significant to me.” Henry views Hispanic Heritage Month as a celebration of what Hispanic people have accomplished and it drives him in his work.
"Hispanic Heritage Month is a celebration of the hard work, the resilience, and the work that people in the community have done,”
- Henry Ruiz, Machine Learning GDE
Henry has seen progress being made in recognizing Hispanic contributions in the tech industry. “Big companies have been aware of the challenges that we have as minorities and they started creating different programs to get community members more involved in tech companies,” he explains. Well-known corporations have hosted conferences for the Hispanic community and Google in particular, gives out scholarships such as the Generation Google Scholarship. This makes him feel seen and gives the community visibility in the industry. When he sees Hispanics in leadership positions, it shows him what can be accomplished, which fuels his work.
Today, Henry has worked on generative AI projects and leverages Google technologies (Cloud, TensorFlow, Kubernetes) to tackle challenges in the agricultural industry. Specifically, he’s working on a project to detect diseases and pests in bananas. With the strong foundation of his community, Henry is actively helping communities with his research. On his advice to the Hispanic community, Henry imparts the following words of wisdom, “Although some might not have access to the same tools and technologies as others, we have to remember that we are resilient, creative, and are problem solvers. Just continue moving forward.”
The Google Developer Experts (GDE) program is a global network of highly experienced technology experts, influencers, and thought leaders who actively support developers, companies, and tech communities by speaking at events and publishing content.
We continue to be inspired by the amazing #WeArePlay stories of app and game creators on Google Play, from all corners of the Earth. This month, hear about a game changing financial app for women in Nigeria to an early learning platform that uses augmented reality.
First up, we’re in Nigeria where two former colleagues at an investment bank, Solape and Yomi, channeled their economic expertise into improving women’s accessibility to finance. HerVest is an app exclusively designed for farmers and small business owners, with saving and investment tips, financial education and credit options. Intent on improving gender equality in the financial sphere, the pair plan to reach a million women by the end of 2024 and “become the go-to financial platform for the financially underserved in Africa”.
Now we’re crossing the ocean into maritime Singapore, where native Brazilian Juliana launched her baby-led weaning app, BLW Meals. When her firstborn was 6 months old, she struggled to transition her onto solid foods. Unable to find adequate resources in her mother language, Portuguese, she decided to make her own platform, sharing everything she’d learned. Today, she’s overjoyed by how much the app - also offered in Spanish and English - has supported other moms through their weaning journey. Soon, she’s launching a new feature for chatting directly with nutritionists, ensuring parents always have an expert on hand to guide them.
Next, we’re heading over to the UK to meet mechanical engineer Harry, who’s on a mission to revolutionize perceptions around energy-limiting health conditions. When he got sick with long Covid after a mild infection in 2020, his ability to do the wild, athletic activities he once enjoyed – like cycling across Iceland – was no longer on the cards. Disappointed by the lack of treatment options, he decided to create a health monitoring app, partnering up with friend and tech lawyer Luke to make it happen. On Visible, patients are empowered to track and monitor their symptoms and activity levels. The anonymized data is also used by medical researchers to improve understanding and treatment options, feeding into Harry’s larger goal of “working to change health policy laws to recognize these conditions”.
Finally, we’re heading to Chile, South America, to meet brothers Ilan and Edison and their friend Nastassja. A veritable dream team, the trio began their tech careers running an augmented reality advertisement agency in their native Venezuela. But when they saw how much kids loved their commercials, they decided to instead use their AR skills to develop an education platform for children. After being offered a place on an accelerator program, they moved to Chile to launch PleIQ – an immersive, early learning app for kids aged 3-8. Next, they’re expanding across Latin America with the goal of “improving education quality to create a more equal society”.
Posted by Yariv Adan, Director of Cloud Conversational AI and Pati Jurek, Google for startups Accelerator Regional LeadThis article is also shared on Google Cloud Blog
Today’s startups are addressing the world's most pressing issues, and artificial intelligence (AI) is one of their most powerful tools. To empower startups to scale their business towards success in the rapidly evolving AI landscape, Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First offers a 10-week, equity-free program for AI-first startups in partnership with Google Cloud. Designed for seed to series A startups based in Europe and Israel, the program helps them grow and build responsibly with AI and machine learning (ML) from the ground up, with access to experts from Google Cloud and Google DeepMind, a mix of in-person and virtual activities, 1:1 mentoring, and group learning sessions.
In addition, the program features deep dives and workshops focused on product design, business growth, and leadership development. Startups that are selected for the cohort also benefit from dedicated Google AI technical expertise and receive credits via the Google for Startups Cloud Program.
Out of hundreds of impressive applications, today we welcome the inaugural cohort of the Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First. The program includes 13 groundbreaking startups from eight different countries, all focused on different verticals and with a diverse array of founder and executive backgrounds. All participants are leveraging AI and ML technologies to solve significant problems and have the potential to transform their respective industries.
Congratulations to the cohort!
We are thrilled to present the inaugural Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First cohort:
Annea.Ai (Germany) utilizes AI and Digital Twin technology to forecast and prevent possible breakdowns in renewable energy assets, such as wind turbines.
Checktur.io (Germany) empowers businesses to manage their commercial vehicle fleets efficiently via an end-to-end fleet asset management ecosystem while using AI models and data-driven insights.
Exactly.ai (UK) lets artists create images in their own unique style with a simple written description.
Neurons (Denmark) has developed a precise AI model that can measure human subconscious signals to predict marketing responses.
PACTA (Germany) provides AI-driven contract lifecycle management with an intelligent no-code workflow on one central legal platform.
Quantic Brains (Spain) empowers users to generate movies and video games using AI.
Sarus (France) builds a privacy layer for Analytics & AI and allows data practitioners to query sensitive data without having direct access to it.
Releva (Bulgaria) provides an all-in-one AI automation solution for eCommerce marketing.
Semantic Hub (Switzerland) uses AI leveraging multilingual Natural Language Understanding to help global biopharmaceutical companies understand the patient experience through first-hand testimonies on social media.
Vazy Data (France) allows anyone to analyze data without technical knowledge by using AI.
Visionary.AI (Israel) leverages cutting-edge AI to improve real-time video quality in challenging visual conditions like extreme low-light.
ZENPULSAR (UK) provides social media analytics from over 10 social media platforms to financial institutions and corporations to facilitate investment and business decisions.
Zaya AI (Romania) uses machine learning to better understand and diagnose diseases, assisting healthcare professionals to make timely and informed medical decisions.
To learn more about the AI-first program, and to signal your interest in nominating your startup for future cohorts, visit the program page here.
Posted by Karina Govindji Senior Director – LEAD - Global Workforce Diversity, and Noa Havazelet – Head of Google's accelerator programs across Europe and Israel
Posted by 
Posted by Sharbani Roy – Senior Director, Product Management, Google
Posted by Kevin Hernandez, Developer Relations Community Manager
Posted by 
Posted by Kevin Hernandez, Developer Relations Community Manager
Posted by Leticia Lago, Developer Marketing
Posted by Yariv Adan, Director of Cloud Conversational AI and Pati Jurek, Google for startups Accelerator Regional Lead