Google Learn About is the patient teacher with a wealth of resources we all wished for in our childhood.
Google's new educational AI tool goes beyond Gemini and is designed to teach you about the universe.
Google has launched a new AI tutor called Learn About, designed to address the limitations of traditional educational chatbots. This personal tutor can adapt its teaching style in real time, making it a more interactive tool than a simple chatbot. Learn About not only offers conversations but also incorporates visual aids and has the ability to expand or simplify topics as needed, functioning as a smart textbook.
Unlike other Google services that utilize the Gemini AI models, Learn About employs the LearnLM model, specifically created for educational and research data. This approach is aimed at fostering critical thinking by providing not only quick answers but also deeper context that includes diagrams and annotated text, as well as suggestions for relevant topics.
The LearnLM model has been designed to minimize common "hallucination" errors typically presented by chatbots. Users can ask questions, propose topics, or upload images, allowing the AI to find information about what is shown. At this time, Learn About is available only to a limited number of users in the U.S., although an expansion is anticipated soon.
In a test, information was requested about building a humanoid robot. Learn About not only provided basic information but also offered a detailed list of necessary items, accompanied by images and suggestions for further reading. The image retrieval function served its purpose, and upon verifying the information on Google, its accuracy was confirmed. The option to delve deeper quickly led to technical details about making a joint, which turned out to be a bit overwhelming.
The option to simplify information was particularly entertaining, as the AI became more creative in explaining the concept of building a robot, starting with a toy explanation and moving on to visual suggestions of a gingerbread man and a Lego man. This approach proved useful in making complex concepts accessible to younger children.
Not all users are always looking for a personal tutor; sometimes they prefer a more straightforward version of the AI. Nevertheless, both Gemini and LearnLM underscore Google's desire to be seen as a comprehensive source of knowledge, whether for simple questions or for full dissertations on the history of a famous place. Learn About positions Google as an information resource and a digital learning companion.
