Google Goes Global with AI App Builder Opal

Key Announcement:

• Google has increased its availability of its AI-assisted, no-code app developer, Opal, to 15 additional nations, such as India, Japan, Brazil, Canada, and Singapore.

About Google Opal:

• It is a no-code, experimental tool that was developed by Google Labs and allows users to build mini web applications through simple text prompts.
• It also creates the workflow, outputs and inputs of the app automatically with the help of AI models of Google without the need to know how to write a program.

Key Features:

• Visual Editor: A drag-and-drop interface to simplify app steps and components customization and modification.
• Instant Sharing: Appropriate users can post and share their apps through special links which can be tested by others.
• Improved Debugging: Advanced debugging system provides a step-by-step workflow testing system that helps identify the errors so that they can be easily fixed without writing any code.
• Performance Enhancements: Reduced app development and multi-task performance to achieve higher efficiency.

Strategic Significance:

• This is a democratization of app development as a non-technical user is now able to create useful apps.
• It places Google to compete with the other no-code tools such as Canva, Figma, and Replit.
• India Introduces AI-based tool SARAL to streamline scientists research.

Key Announcement:

• The AI-based system, SARAL (Simplified and Automated Research Amplification and Learning) has been introduced by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF).

Objective:

• To simplify the complex scientific research to be more accessible and comprehensible to the general population.

Functionality:

• Relies on Artificial Intelligence (AI) to produce simplified summaries of the research papers in different formats, such as videos, podcasts, posters, and presentations.
• Provides 11 Indian languages to enhance inclusiveness and broader science discourse.

Development & Governance:

• It was developed by IIIT Hyderabad under the leadership of the ANRF.
• The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) is a statutory institution that is under the Department of Science and Technology (DST).