To bring this vision to life Google Researchers utilized machine learning, a technology which enables computer systems to automatically comprehend data. The first step was to introduce Coupland’s body of written work from the previous 30 years, including over 1 millions words, to the machine learning model. The Google Researchers then cultivated a specialized algorithm to familiarize the AI with Coupland’s signature style of writing. Next, to train the algorithm in compiling brief, targeted statements, social media posts gathered from the general public were added to the algorithm. Once the algorithm was primed, its job was to process and rearrange potential slogans consisting of Coupland’s previous written work to serve as the 25 Slogans for the Class of 2030.

“I would comb through “data dumps” where characters from one novel were speaking to those in other novels in ways that they might actually do. It felt like I was encountering a parallel universe of Doug”, Coupland said, explaining the almost artificial or supernatural nature of the slogans. The combinations of words and phrases, though all originally written by Coupland, were only made possible due to the algorithm’s ability to regenerate slogans and recombine words from a multitude of separate texts.

One prevailing theme throughout the body of work is an investigation of the human condition through the lens of pop culture, and specifically connecting with the condition of the younger generation. The slogan’s content and their modern design intentionally place an emphasis on the Class of 2030, as they are the first generation of young people whose lives are fully intertwined with the existence of AI.

“This project with Google’s AI division is a way of addressing this relentless phenomenon of identity-shifting that weighs heavily on the minds of most people”, Coupland said, explaining that with AI on the rise and playing an increasingly prominent role in today’s world, many may feel confusion or stress in an ever changing environment. In a dynamic world with constant technological advancement, Coupland wanted to open a door of possibility for students considering their future career paths. Through this project he aimed to spark a larger conversation about the vast possibilities in the AI field and encourage students to marry their scientific and artistic passions in the future.

Celebrating both Canadian artistic culture and the opportunity to enjoy the Summer months outdoors, multiple venues nation-wide are debuting, for a limited time, the slogans on jumbotron sized digital screens. The sites include the Terry Fox Memorial Plaza at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, the TELUS Len Werry building in downtown Calgary, the TELUS Harbour in downtown Toronto, and Pattison digital screens throughout Canada. “Calgarians will already be familiar with the unique Douglas Coupland light display at TELUS Sky, and we jumped at the opportunity for more of our buildings to showcase the beauty of AI and art coming together, and to celebrate Douglas Couplands inspiring and captivating words” said Scott Dutchak, TELUS Vice-President of Real Estate.

The post Google x Douglas Coupland: AI-infused Art collaboration appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Describe your role as Google’s Executive Sponsor for volunteering projects.

I’m really fortunate to work for a company that values and empowers its employees to explore projects outside of our day-to-day role or specific function — this is the famous “20-percent time” concept of our company’s innovation culture. For me, I’ve been leveraging part of this time as an Executive Sponsor for a number of volunteering projects. Over the past year, this has been focused on helping to mobilize a large group of Googlers to volunteer to give back to the community through our Google for Nonprofits program. This is especially important now given the pandemic and the impact on the community and nonprofits that serve them. Serving the community has been a big part of my life for the past 20 years and so I’m incredibly grateful that Google not only encourages this, but helps to foster this mindset across the organization.

What problem do you aim to solve?

We look for opportunities for Googlers to get involved in the community and give back — over the past year we really leaned on our Google for Nonprofits (G4NP) program to help the organizations that focus on helping our communities. Google for Nonprofits provides access to Google products at no charge including Google Workspace, Google Ad Grants and more. Our volunteers were deployed to help onboard Nonprofits to our G4NP program and to provide hands on Ad Grant audits & training for a subset of non profits focused on COVID-19 related causes e.g. homelessness, food insecurity, domestic violence, mental health, public health, unemployment, racial justice, etc.

What recent initiatives have you and the team taken on?

One of the things I love about Googlers is that they’re helpful, willing to give back, and are always ready to raise their hands to get involved. And this was the case with one of our most recent projects. COVID-19 has been really difficult for so many in different ways and we saw a need for us to serve our community so we created an infrastructure to more systematically onboard & support nonprofits during the COVID-19 pandemic through the Google for Nonprofits program.

What inspired this initiative?

Last March when COVID-19 hit, a small group of Googlers including myself started thinking about how to help nonprofits that help Canada’s most vulnerable people. We knew that the need would be greater than ever, and so we knew this was an area we could help serve. Many Canadian nonprofits were unaware of the free resources, tools and Google Ad grants that are available through the Google for Nonprofits program, so we wanted to focus on getting them set up to take advantage of these offerings.

How did this initiative get started?

It really started with a group of Googlers that were passionate about serving our communities and as we started to see the pandemic unfold, we knew the need was greater than we had imagined. From there we enlisted the help of over 120 Googler volunteers across our Canadian offices. With the help of employees from a wide range of professional backgrounds, we set up an infrastructure meant to guide nonprofit organizers through the tools available on Google for Nonprofits.In addition to the Google for Nonprofit program, we are also able to share our latest programs around applied digital skills training with these organizations.

What change(s) have you seen as the result of the team’s ongoing efforts?

It’s been really meaningful to see the impact this program has had — nonprofits across the country really appreciate the resources we prepared for them, and the program has made a big impact for these organizations. To date, we have helped over 1,500 Canadian nonprofits onboard to our G4NP program which is a testament to the eagerness of Googlers to lend a helping hand.

What more needs to be done?

We’re extremely proud that we have been able to reach so many Canadian nonprofits, but we know there is more work to be done and other nonprofits that could benefit from the program. Our team is passionate and eager to continue these efforts and so we hope more organizations across the country will explore how Google for Nonprofits can help them reach their goals, whether that’s helping them to adapt to a virtual world with Workspace or benefitting from the Ad Grants program.

How can our readers and other non-profits learn more?

Readers and nonprofit organizers can find out more about Google for Nonprofits here. For a full list of resources available to nonprofits during the COVID-19 pandemic, learn more here.

Where can we follow you?

You can follow me on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Follow Google Canada on Twitter and YouTube.

PAY IT FORWARD: What is an awesome local charity that you love?

United Way of Greater Toronto

The post Charitable Choices: Google For Non Profits (G4NP) appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Lets start with the basics.

The Huawei P20 Pro model is the slightly larger and more powerful device. It measures 155.0 mm x 73.9 mm x 7.8 mm (H x W x D) compared to the Huawei P20 which is 149.1 mm x 70.8 mm x 7.65 mm (H x W x D). The display is a 6.1″ HUAWEI FullView Display 18:9 OLED with 3D glass, 1080 x 2240 pixels, 408ppi and 16.7M colours. It runs on Android OS, uses USB-C to charge and transfer data and has 3 Leica lenses – 40MP RGB (f/1.8) + 20MP monochrome (f/1.6) + 8MP telephoto (f/2.4). It is also capable of shooting 4K and 960 fps video recording. The front facing camera is a 24 MP f/2.0 camera to boot. Not too shabby.

The battery is also improved on the Pro model with a 4000 mAh that will hopefully get you through your day without a charge.

The camera has some cool new features like AI, 4D predictive focus and 5x Hybrid Zoom.

The Artificial Intelligence of the Huawei P20 Pro has several functions. When you are in normal camera mode, it can identify what you are shooting and provide settings that it believes will improve the quality of the photo. It recognizes flowers, food, text for document scanning, etc. Think more contrast, saturation, light, etc. The AI also allows for hand held long exposures.

The 4d Predictive focus allows for the following of objects or people and focusses on them very quickly so you don’t lose focus and you get the shot that you want. Think moving objects moving into frame and leaving the frame quickly. You often lose the focus to the background but the Huawei P20 gets the shot.

The zoom on the Huawei P20 Pro is better than the Google Pixel 2 XL or the iPhone X. At a recent launch event for the phone, we tested all 3 phones by zooming in on text very far away, taking a photo. and then zooming in on the photos to see how clear and sharp the text was. The Huawei P20 shattered the competition allowing text to be read from a much farther distance.

More about the camera.

The Huawei P20 Pro has a Pro mode that allows you to take your phone to full manual mode. The ISO can be cranked all the way up to 102400, the shutter speed can shoot as fast as 1/4000 and as slow as 30 seconds. You can also adjust settings like white balance and focal distance. If you want to really go pro, try shooting in RAW format which is fully supported by the new device.

Other cool features.

– The Huawei P20 and P20 Pro come with a USB-C to headphone jack cord and a pair of headphones.
– Lots of cool power saving options like lowering screen resolution.
– Extended screen next to ear-piece similar to the iPhone X.
– 3D Panoramas allow to to capture an object from all sides and create a moveable image of the subject. Simply drag your finger around the object in the finished image to see all sides of it.

Things I did not like.

– I still prefer the back finger unlock on the Google Pixel. It is just a more natural position. I always feel I have to use two hands to unlock the home button finger scanners.
– The speakers are at the bottom of the device on either side of the USB-C plug. I prefer the stereo speakers that face forward on either side of the screen like on the Google Pixel 2.
– I think all devices should have the mute switch like iPhone has. Something about not having to look at the screen to turn the mute all on is attractive.

Is this phone for you?

If you want to have the best cellphone camera on the market and want to pay less than you would for a Google Pixel 2 XL or the iPhone X, then this could be the phone for you. The Huawei P20 Pro without a contract will cost you $980 compared to $1315 for the Google Pixel 2 XL and $1350 for the iPhone X. You also get 64 GB more with the Huawei P20 Pro (128GB). Quite the difference in price for a phone that I felt was very competitive to these phones and better in many ways.

Learn more about the Huawei P20 Pro and its features here.

The post The camera game is strong with the all new Huawei P20 Pro appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Need a conversation starter at your next party? Here are some of the interesting findings…

The Top 10 Most Searched Canadian News:

1. Ottawa Senators
2. Gord Downie
3. Solar Eclipse
4. BC Election
5. The Weather
6. Ontario College Strike
7. BC Wildfires
8. Grey Cup
9. Invictus Games
10. Instant Pot

The Top 10 Most Searched “HOW…” questions:

1. How do they name hurricanes
2. How may teaspoons are in a tablespoon
3. How soon should you take a pregnancy test
4. How to make solar eclipse glasses
5. How to buy bitcoin in Canada
6. How to renew a Canadian passport
7. How to make slime
8. How often should you wash your hair
9. How much does it cost to build a house
10. How to help someone with depression

The Top 10 Most Searched “WHY…” Questions:

1. Why are NFL players protesting the national anthem
2. Why are flags in Canada at half mast
3. Why are there so many hurricanes
4. Why are women marching
5. why does Catalonia want independence
6. Why is the solar eclipse dangerous to look at
7. Why are fidget spinners so popular
8. Why doesn’t Caillou have hair
9. Why is everything so heavy
10. Why is Canadian thanksgiving different than US thanksgiving

The Top 10 Most Searched TV Shows:

1. 13 Reasons Why
2. Game of Thrones
3. Riverdale
4. Iron Fist
5. Santa Clarity Diet
6. Stranger Things
7. The OA
8. This Is Us
9. The Handmaid’s Tale
10. Big Mouth

The Top 10 Most Searched Musicians:

1. Neil Young
2. Ed Sheeran
3. Shania Twain
4. Ariana Grande
5. Lil Pump
6. Cardi B
7. Luis Fonsi
8. Jason Aldean
9. Aaron Carter
10. Sam Smith

The Top 10 Most Searched Diets:

1. Apple Cider Vinegar Diet
2. Plant Based Diet
3. Ketogenic Diet
4. Tom Brady Diet
5. Snake Diet
6. Emily Ratajkowski Diet
7. Boiled Egg Diet
8. Low FODMAP Diet
9. Fatty Liver Diet
10. Chris Pratt Diet

The Top 10 Most Searched Consumer Tech:

1. iPhone 8
2. iPhone X
3. Nintendo Switch
4. Instant Pot
5. xBox One X
6. Google Home Mini
7. iOs 11
8. Samsung Galaxy 8
9. Google Pixel 2
10. Super NES Classic

The post Annual list released of what Canadians googled the most in 2017 appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

The Pixel 2 has introduced several new features to the phone including waterproofing, squeezable sides that let you access the google assistant despite loud environment or gloved hands, improved Bluetooth connection with v.5 and an even better camera.

Improvements from the Pixel 1 camera include optical image stabilization for steadier shots, a wider aperture at 1.8, the Pixel Visual Core which is an image-processing chip that will make the Pixel 2 vastly faster and more efficient for Google’s HDR+ mode and they also got rid of that pesky lens flare.

The Pixel 2 also come in the larger XL size for those who want a more phablet experience.

In celebration of this awesome new device, TELUS and I want to give away one of these phones to a reader of Toronto Guardian.

Contest for a Google Pixel 2

There are several ways to enter.

Facebook

1. Share this facebook post.

2. Comment on this facebook post with the feature you are most excited for on the Pixel 2.

Twitter

3. ReTweet this tweet

4. Tweet at @TELUS and @TORguardian with the feature you are most excited for on the Pixel 2.

#CONTEST: The Google Pixel 2 has an even better camera than its predecessor with improved image stabilization, a wider aperture at 1.8 and the Pixel Visual Core which shortens HDR compute times. https://t.co/Vez32pjp1Y

— Toronto Guardian (@TORGuardian) November 27, 2017

Instagram

5. Like and Comment on this Instagram post with your favourite Google Pixel 2 feature.

#CONTEST: The Google Pixel 2 has an even better camera than its predesessor with improved image stablilization, a wider aperture at 1.8 and the Pixel Visual Core which shortens HDR compute tines. . We are giving a device away with @TELUS to one of our readers. Read the post on our website for contest details. . Link in bio. . . ? 1: @Stilez ? 2: @StedyPhoto . . #toronto #cityoftoronto #hypetoronto #streetsoftoronto #torontolife #igtoronto #torontoigers #thesix #the6 #the6ix #tdot #memoirsoftoronto #postcardsfromthe6 #imagesoftoronto #torontophoto #torontoclicks #torontolove #torontonian #torontoblogger #toronto_insta #torontobound #torontoliving #toptorontophoto #6ixwalks #seetorontonow #viewsfromthe6 #viewsoftoronto #exploretoronto #yyz

A post shared by Toronto Guardian (@torontoguardian) on Nov 27, 2017 at 7:50am PST

*You can enter up to 5 times. We will select a winner December 1st at 5pm*

The post CONTEST: Google Pixel 2 for that very special someone on your list appeared first on Toronto Guardian.