Mastering Japanese, art history and linear algebra can be easy, thanks to the latest AI collaboration between Google and the University of Waterloo.
At the heart of this collaboration is reimagining education and career development in an AI-driven world, spearheaded by Waterloo’s new Future of Work Institute.
In October, Google and Waterloo launched a new partnership that included a $1M investment to create the Google Chair in the Future of Work and Learning. The ensuing chair was endowed to Computer Science Professor Edith Law, and is related to Law’s broader initiative, the Future of Work Institute. The Future of Work Institute is also supported by Waterloo’s Global Futures Fund, which helped create a range of initiatives that advance the vision of Waterloo’s Global Futures.
The Future of Work Institute’s first initiative is the Futures Lab: An AI + UX Prototyping Workshop. This bootcamp-style workshop series invites students to learn AI-related skills, from coding to business ideation. They also form teams to tackle an educational problem by leveraging Google’s suite of AI tools, such as Gemini Canvas and Google AI Studio. Each team must include students from different faculties, fostering interdisciplinary knowledge and creativity.