Google and University of Waterloo Partner to Explore AI's Impact on Learning and Work

Google has announced a new strategic partnership with the University of Waterloo focused on exploring how AI can revolutionize learning and work. The collaboration aims to prepare the next generation for an AI-driven world. To kick off the partnership, Google is providing a $1 million CAD contribution to establish a new Google Chair in the Future of Work and Learning. Professor Edith Law, a Computer Science professor and Executive Director of the University of Waterloo’s Future of Work Institute, will be the inaugural chair. The partnership's centerpiece is the Futures Lab: An AI Prototyping Workshop. This hands-on lab will involve interdisciplinary student teams working with faculty and Google mentors to build AI-powered learning prototypes using tools like Gemini and AI Studio. The first workshop will commence on October 6, challenging students to develop prototypes that address challenges at the intersection of AI and education. The experience will conclude with a symposium where students will showcase their projects. Google's Kitchener-Waterloo office is the company's largest engineering hub in Canada, contributing to Google products such as Google Cloud AI, Workspace, and Android XR.