Research @ Google NYC Event 2024

Google Research recently showcased their latest research and some of their projects in artificial intelligence and other applications across various domains at their NYC Office. The event featured presentations from leading researchers and executives, highlighting breakthroughs in healthcare, climate science, quantum computing, and more.

AI in Healthcare and Human Interaction

Eye Tracking and Wellness Applications

Vidhya Navalpakkam presented groundbreaking work on mobile eye tracking technology:

• Developed ML-powered eye tracking using standard selfie cameras

• Achieved results comparable to expensive hardware solutions

• Applications include:

  • Fatigue detection for accident prevention

  • “Look to Speak” assistive technology

  • Predictive attention models

• Implementation in Google Pixel devices

• Strong focus on responsible AI and privacy

Biomedical Applications

• Greg Corrado discussed AI applications in protein research

• Cory McLean presented genomics research, focusing on linking genetic traits

• Integration of AI in various healthcare scenarios

Climate and Environmental AI

Weather Forecasting Innovation

Stephen (Sr. Staff SWE) and Luke Barrington presented NeuralGCM:

• State-of-the-art weather forecasting system

• Neural networks optimized for predicting historical weather patterns

• Improved accuracy over conventional climate models

• Faster and more efficient simulations

• Helps quantify risks of extreme weather events

Practical Applications

• Flood forecasting system (freely accessible)

• Wildfire mapping integration

• Implementation in Pixel weather apps

• Open Buildings project for tracking community development

• Partnership with GiveDirectly for anticipatory cash transfers during disasters

Quantum Computing and Efficiency

Quantum Research

• Benjamin Villalonga (Quantum AI team) discussed:

  • Energy efficiency in AI systems

  • Progress toward large-scale quantum computers

  • Potential societal impacts

  • Solutions for previously unsolvable problems

AI Efficiency

• Chase Hensel presented on speculative decoding

• Yaniv Leviathan discussed general AI efficiency improvements

Business and Operations

AI in Business Applications

• Renato Paes Leme presented on AI applications in auctions and pricing

• Katherine Chou discussed product and UX implementations

• Focus on practical business solutions

Operational Excellence

Maya Kulycky (VP, Operations) highlighted:

• Importance of transparency in operations

• Facilitation of research to product pipeline

• Decision-making processes

• Focus on breakthrough innovations

Collaborative Approach

Marian Croak and Saska Mojsilovic emphasized:

• Diverse team composition including:

  • HCI specialists

  • Human rights lawyers

  • Linguists

  • Systems engineers

• Importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration

Conclusion

The event showcased Google Research’s commitment to advancing AI technology across multiple sectors, with a particular focus on practical applications that can benefit society. From healthcare innovations to climate science solutions, the presentations demonstrated how AI is being leveraged to address some of today’s most pressing challenges.