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Google Cloud and Ai2 Commit $20M to Advance AI-Powered Research for the Cancer AI Alliance

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Google Cloud to provide advanced and secure technology, while Ai2 to lead AI training and development for AI cancer models

SEATTLE and SUNNYVALE, Calif., April 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Google Cloud and Ai2 announced they have partnered with the Cancer AI Alliance (CAIA), a pioneering consortium uniting leading cancer research institutions and technology companies to harness artificial intelligence (AI) in the fight against cancer. Google Cloud and Ai2 are each giving $10 million to the initiative and providing access to technology solutions that will help speed scientific discovery. Google Cloud will power planet-scale AI infrastructure and data analytics tools, while Ai2 will provide critical expertise in training large-scale models focusing on cancer research.

“The Cancer AI Alliance represents a major advancement in harnessing AI to transform cancer discovery and research,” said Reymund Dumlao, Director, State and Local Government and Education, Google Public Sector. “Google Cloud’s planet-scale AI infrastructure and analytics combined with Ai2’s mission to make open models more accessible will help accelerate research breakthroughs and drive improvements in patient outcomes.”

AI has the potential to radically advance cancer research, helping accelerate the discovery of cures or more effective treatments. However, this is only possible with access to critical data aligned across cancers, treatments, institutions, and medical professionals. Today, cancer AI models are often limited by both the breadth and depth of data and not easily transferable between institutions, limiting the potential for a single model to make a broader impact in the field of cancer research.

“The potential for AI to advance healthcare is immense, and CAIA represents a significant step toward applying AI to some of the most challenging problems in cancer and AI research,” said Ali Farhadi, CEO of Ai2. “At Ai2, we are not only committed to building state-of-the-art AI models, but also to creating open, scalable systems that allow cancer centers to collaborate in a distributed and private way. For the first time, cancer centers are bringing their data together, and it’s imperative we architect data preparation and model training in a way that protects patient privacy while demonstrating the advancements we make by sharing data effectively and securely. Our open, yet privacy-protected distributed approach allows researchers and clinicians to build on and learn from AI models without the need to directly share data.”

CAIA, spearheaded by Seattle’s Fred Hutch Cancer Center in collaboration with top cancer research institutes and tech leaders, aims to create a novel AI infrastructure that is open, which is critical for the research, while keeping data private and secure. By bringing together leading cancer centers, CAIA will develop generalizable AI models that in the future can be shared across institutions, from large centers to smaller regional hospitals.

“The addition of Google Cloud and AI2 to CAIA builds on our incredible momentum toward safely and swiftly unlocking the next generation of critical insights in cancer treatment and care,” said Jeff Leek, chief data officer at Fred Hutch Cancer Center and holder of the J. Orin Edson Foundation Endowed Chair. “Their generous contribution of AI and computing expertise and resources, when combined with the technical and scientific prowess of our collective partners, will play a key role in creating the world’s most advanced cancer AI laboratory and dramatically accelerate cancer research and improve patient outcomes.”

Leveraging Google Cloud infrastructure, Ai2 will play a leading role in AI training efforts across the Alliance, collaborating with individual cancer centers to develop and refine AI models tailored to their specific needs. These models will be designed to scale across institutions, ensuring robust data privacy and security by implementing advanced techniques to protect sensitive, institute-specific data while fostering collaboration and innovation. The Alliance is committed to developing AI models that can analyze vast amounts of anonymized patient data without compromising privacy, ensuring that AI-powered insights are both impactful and secure.

With Ai2 leading AI model development, powered by Google Cloud’s infrastructure and computing technology that enables collaboration on large data sets, CAIA is primed to drive rapid progress in AI-powered cancer research.

About Google Cloud
Google Cloud is the new way to the cloud, providing AI, infrastructure, developer, data, security, and collaboration tools built for today and tomorrow. Google Cloud offers a powerful, fully integrated and optimized AI stack with its own planet-scale infrastructure, custom-built chips, generative AI models and development platform, as well as AI-powered applications, to help organizations transform. Customers in more than 200 countries and territories turn to Google Cloud as their trusted technology partner.

About Ai2
Ai2 is a Seattle-based non-profit AI research institute with the mission of building breakthrough AI to solve the world’s biggest problems. Founded in 2014 by the late Paul G. Allen, Ai2 develops foundational AI research and innovative new applications that deliver real-world impact through large-scale open models, open data, robotics, conservation platforms, and more. Ai2 champions true openness with ambitious projects like OLMo, the world’s first truly open language model framework, empowering others to participate in the creation of state-of-the-art AI and to directly benefit from the many ways it can advance critical fields like medicine, scientific research, climate science, and conservation efforts. For more information, visit allenai.org.

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SOURCE Google Cloud

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HKAGE Showcases Gifted Students’ Learning Journeys at InnoCarnival 2026

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Promoting “Technology for Good” Through Innovation and Creativity 

HONG KONG, Oct. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education (HKAGE) has been invited to participate in InnoCarnival 2026, organised by the Innovation and Technology Commission. Under the theme “Technology for Good, Innovation for All”, HKAGE will showcase the learning journeys of gifted students who have completed programmes on AI robotic arms, underwater archaeology, etc., demonstrating how technology can be harnessed to address societal needs.

Having proactively aligned its work with the education development strategies of the Education Bureau (EDB), HKAGE fully supports the EDB’s Blueprint for Digital Education in Primary and Secondary Schools, which seeks to advance the digital transformation of school education in Hong Kong. Building on its Talent Development Model, HKAGE systematically develops programmes, provides diversified learning experiences and engages in cross-sector collaborations to nurture gifted talents equipped with innovative capabilities, technological literacy, and a strong sense of social responsibility. At the exhibition this year, HKAGE will present how students applied knowledge gained through gifted education programmes and learning experiences in areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, environmental science, underwater archaeology and sustainable development to design socially conscious solutions. These experiences reflect the students’ ability to serve society with knowledge and respond creatively to diverse challenges.

Among the highlights is the learning journey of students in the “Artificial Intelligence Course: Creative AI Robotic Arm for Inclusion”. After acquiring foundational knowledge in artificial intelligence, robotics and sensor applications, students designed, tested and refined intelligent robotic arm prototypes through real-time data analysis and algorithms. With the aim of improving the quality of life for the elderly and caregivers, students explored various application scenarios for intelligent robotic arms. Another showcase features the “Environmental Science Course: Bat Echoes – Voices of the Night”. Through acoustic monitoring, the exhibition demonstrates how students recorded bat voices and analysed related activity data and characteristics. The programme enabled students to gain a deeper understanding of local biodiversity and explore practical approaches to ecological conservation.

The HKAGE exhibition booth also features an interactive photo-taking device, allowing visitors to take photos with different gifted programme themes and share the joy of learning.

On the first day of the exhibition, a “Build Your Own Glider Parent-Child Workshop” is specially organised by HKAGE for the visitors. Under the guidance of instructors and assisted by HKAGE students, participants will learn the basic principles of aerodynamics, including lift, gravity, thrust and drag. They will also learn to design, assemble and decorate their own gliders by using lightweight and durable materials, experiencing the joy of science and engineering.

Mr WONG Chung Po, Acting Executive Director of HKAGE, said: “The Academy is committed to providing gifted students with diversified learning platforms and encouraging them to transform knowledge into innovative practices that generate positive social impact. Participation in this exhibition not only provides students with a valuable learning experience that helps consolidate the knowledge acquired in gifted programmes, but also enables the public to better understand how gifted education nurtures a new generation of creative and socially responsible talents to jointly advance the philosophy of ‘Technology for Good’.”

InnoCarnival 2026 – The Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education

Date:

24 Oct – 1 Nov

Venue:

The Hong Kong Science Park

Booth:

C08-09

Time:

10:00 – 17:00 (Mon to Fri)

10:00 – 18:00 (Sat & Sun)

 

About the HKAGE

Established in 2008 and subvented by the Education Bureau, the HKAGE offers gifted education services actively to local primary and secondary school students to unleash their potential. It also provides gifted education-related information and support for teachers, parents, and other relevant stakeholders.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/hkage-showcases-gifted-students-learning-journeys-at-innocarnival-2026-302918606.html

SOURCE Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education

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LEAP Group Relaunches HumanView, a Growth Intelligence System Built to Explain Why Customers Behave the Way They Do

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Reimagined from the ground up, HumanView pairs statistical modeling with expert analysts to turn millions of real-world customer signals into business decisions

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LEAP Group today announced the relaunch of HumanView, its growth intelligence service. The new version has been rebuilt from the ground up and now has a dedicated home at leapgroupnetwork.com/humanview.

HumanView analyzes what customers say and do across social platforms, e-commerce sites, review platforms, search behavior and user-generated content, including signals from Reddit, TikTok, YouTube, Meta, Amazon and Walmart+ that general AI tools cannot always access. Because the data reflects unprompted, real-world behavior, it avoids the response bias built into surveys and focus groups.

The service works in three layers. HumanView captures signals at scale, decodes millions of records through validated statistical models such as regression, correlation and clustering, and then relies on experienced analysts to interpret the patterns. Clients receive clear, human-validated insights instead of another dashboard.

“Machines find the patterns. Humans find the point,” said Alan Gilleo, CEO at LEAP Group. “The first version of HumanView showed us how much customers reveal when nobody is asking them questions. This version is built to explain why they act the way they do, and to put those answers in front of everyone making decisions, from product to service to marketing.”

HumanView focuses on three areas:

Growth Intelligence: customer motivations and how people perceive a brand and its competitors

Market and Category Intelligence: product pain points, service friction, unmet needs and competitive gaps

Audience Intelligence: new segments, positioning opportunities and gaps in the market

Every model is designed and validated by data scientists and benchmarked before it informs a recommendation.

To learn more about HumanView, visit leapgroupnetwork.com/humanview.

About LEAP Group
LEAP Group is a boutique marketing agency holding company with offices in Louisville, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Chicago. Guided by the belief that brands should “Market Less. Matter More.,” LEAP gives clients access to specialized experts across its entire network. Learn more at leapgroupnetwork.com.

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SOURCE LEAP Group

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STEPHEN A. SMITH ADDRESSES WHITE HOUSE DINNER ATTENDANCE, REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO HBCUs AND PROTECTING CORPORATE INVESTMENT IN BLACK EDUCATION

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NEW YORK, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Stephen A. Smith, media mogul, New York Times bestselling author, and proud 1991 graduate of Winston-Salem State University, is addressing the public discussion surrounding his decision to attend a White House dinner with President Donald Trump, emphasizing his commitment to the long-term financial stability of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

For Smith, the decision was rooted in a commitment to institutions that have educated generations of Black leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, and public servants.

“I will always advocate for HBCUs and the students whose futures depend on them,” Smith said. “My reason for attending the White House dinner was to discuss the challenges these institutions face in securing long-term funding and to make the case that corporate America must continue to invest in them.”

Smith acknowledged federal support through the FUTURE Act while expressing concern that political tensions surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) could discourage private companies from supporting HBCUs. He maintains that these institutions deserve sustained corporate partnerships, philanthropic contributions, and public investment.

“If we truly believe in free-market capitalism, businesses should be able to support educational institutions and charitable causes without fear of criticism or repercussions,” Smith said. “HBCUs have made extraordinary contributions to this country. They deserve sustained public and private investment.”

Ashley Christopher, Esq., Founder and CEO of the HBCU Week Foundation, recognized Smith’s advocacy and decision to engage with the administration.

“Stephen A. Smith has been a powerful advocate for HBCUs, using his platform and influence to shine a national spotlight on our institutions,” expressed Christopher, “His continued support of HBCU Week helps advance our mission of connecting students with life-changing educational opportunities, and we are proud to have him as our ambassador.”

Since Smith became an HBCU Week Ambassador in 2019, the initiative has facilitated more than 15,000 on-the-spot college acceptances and raised and awarded more than $150 million in scholarships, according to the HBCU Week Foundation.

As public discussion continues, Smith is emphasizing the importance of ensuring HBCUs have the resources and partnerships needed to educate future generations and expand opportunities for students.

CLICK HERE to watch Smith’s full response to his White House visit.

MEDIA CONTACT:

media@mrsasinc.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stephen-a-smith-addresses-white-house-dinner-attendance-reaffirms-commitment-to-hbcus-and-protecting-corporate-investment-in-black-education-302918547.html

SOURCE Straight Shooter Media

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