Google ‘Learn About’ experimental AI tool released with educational style responses

Google on Monday released a new experimental artificial intelligence (AI) tool aimed at helping users learn about new topics. The tool, called Learn About, is different from the Mountain View-based tech giant’s usual AI offerings, like Gemini or AI Overview. The experimental tool displays information in a visual and interactive style and draws on data from educational sources. The Google Learn About AI tool is built using the LearnLM Large Language Model (LLM) instead of the Gemini AI model.

The tech giant explained the Learn About tool in detail in a sign-up page. Calling it an “interactive learning companion”, Google said the experimental tool will help users meet their learning goals. The platform is currently only available to select users in the US, and other regions do not have access to it.

Interestingly, the tech giant used a different AI model called LearnLM for its AI tool. The AI ​​model was unveiled during the Google I/O event, and the company said it is based more on educational and research data and more in line with the way people learn.

Learn About uses visual and interactive styles and shares images, articles, and videos to help users learn about new topics. The Verge tested the tool and found that the same prompt shared with Gemini and Learn About produces vastly different outputs.

For a sure sign, Gemini reportedly responded by citing Wikipedia. However, Learn About allegedly shared an image from an educational website and added related content to enable users to learn the topic and related concepts in depth. The AI ​​tool is also said to avoid the common hallucinations experienced by Google’s AI models.

Learn About also offers interactive guides on complex topics where users can systematically navigate through a range of concepts to fully understand them. Additionally, it also highlights misconceptions associated with the topic to help users avoid them.

Separately, Google has also released a new Utilities extension for the Gemini app. This extension will enable Gemini AI Assistant on Android devices to control smartphone functions. It can control first-party apps and functions like alarms, timers, volume controls, camera, and more.