Google Cloud Next 2024: Google Gemini In Databases To Chrome Enterprise Premium. Key Highlights

This event serves as a platform for unveiling a plethora of Cloud-focused announcements.

During the event, the tech giant showcased its continued commitment to AI.

Source : Google

Google's Cloud Next 2024 event is underway in Las Vegas and it will conclude on Thursday. This event serves as a platform for unveiling a plethora of Cloud-focused announcements, ranging from updates on Google Gemini, Google's artificial intelligence (AI)-powered chatbot, to advancements in AI, devops and security.

Notably, last year's event marked the return of an in-person Cloud Next conference since 2019.

During the event, the tech giant showcased its continued commitment to AI, by expanding generative AI across its security product line. Additionally, the event featured numerous enterprise-focused updates and debuts.

Here are the key highlights of the Google Cloud Next 2024 event.

Google Gemini In Databases

Google describes Gemini in Databases as a set of features designed to "streamline every stage of the database process." In simpler terms, it's a package of AI-powered tools tailored for developers using Google Cloud, aimed at assisting in the creation, monitoring, and migration of application databases.

Vertex AI Agent Builder

Google also announced Vertex AI Agent Builder, a new tool designed to assist companies in building AI agents. This tool utilises a process known as "grounding," where responses are linked to a trusted source. In this instance, it relies on Google Search (which may or may not always provide accurate information).

“Vertex AI, our enterprise AI platform, sits on top of our world-class infrastructure. It is the only unified platform that lets customers discover, customize, augment, deploy, and manage gen AI models,” Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian, said in a statement.

Gemini In BigQuery

This innovative tool harnesses AI to support data teams in tasks such as data preparation, discovery, analysis, and governance. Additionally, it offers the ability to construct and execute data pipelines through our latest BigQuery data canvas. This feature delivers a novel notebook-like interface, complete with natural language processing and embedded visualisations, both of which are currently available in preview.

Gemini In Looker

The tech giant announced new functionalities, currently available in preview, which facilitate seamless integration of your data agents with your workflows. Additionally, it incorporated new generation AI capabilities, enabling you to interact with your business data through chat, seamlessly integrated with Google Workspace.

Nvidia’s Blackwell Platform Coming To Google Cloud

One of the eagerly-awaited revelations is the introduction of Nvidia's next-generation Blackwell platform to Google Cloud, expected to arrive in early 2025. Although it may seem distant, there's much to anticipate: support for the high-performance Nvidia HGX B200 for AI and HPC workloads, along with the GB200 NBL72 designed for large language model (LLM) training. Additionally, it was disclosed that the GB200 servers will be liquid-cooled.

Chrome Enterprise Premium

Google is also broadening its Chrome Enterprise product suite by introducing Chrome Enterprise Premium. This latest addition focuses primarily on enhancing the security features of the existing service, recognising that browsers have become the primary endpoints for most activities.

Google Axion

It is the company's inaugural custom Arm-based CPU specifically engineered for the datacenter. It offers up to 50 per cent superior performance and up to 60 per cent better energy efficiency compared to similar current-generation x86-based instances.