AiNews.com
Posts
Google’s ‘Learn About’ AI Tool Focuses on Education, Not Just Answers

Google’s ‘Learn About’ AI Tool Focuses on Education, Not Just Answers

Alicia Shapiro
November 12, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes

A modern and interactive educational interface representing Google’s Learn About AI tool. The screen displays a question, "How big is the universe?", with responses formatted in a structured, textbook style. There are educational elements like bulleted summaries, vocabulary definitions, and boxes labeled “why it matters” and “common misconceptions.” Visual aids, including diagrams of the solar system and data icons, emphasize an engaging learning experience. The color scheme uses Google’s branding colors, giving a clean and innovative look. The overall scene conveys advancements in AI-driven education and interactive learning.

Image Source: ChatGPT-4o

Google’s ‘Learn About’ AI Tool Focuses on Education, Not Just Answers

Google has introduced Learn About, an experimental AI tool designed to provide deeper educational responses that go beyond typical chatbot answers. Unlike general-purpose AI chatbots like Google Gemini or ChatGPT, Learn About is built on Google’s LearnLM model, specifically designed to align with educational research and promote effective learning.

A Focus on Interactive and Visual Learning

Learn About provides answers with educational formatting, including visuals, interactive elements, and contextual boxes. For instance, when asked, “How big is the universe?” both Learn About and Google Gemini mentioned that the observable universe is “about 93 billion light-years in diameter.” However, Learn About featured an image from Physics Forums and organized its answer in a more structured, educational format, adding elements like “why it matters” boxes and vocabulary definitions to build understanding.

Beyond simple facts, Learn About encourages continued exploration with sidebar suggestions and definitions to help users gain a fuller grasp of new topics.

A screenshot of Google’s Learn About AI tool explaining the size and scale of the universe in response to a user query. The left sidebar suggests related topics, such as “Definition,” “Distance vs. Time,” and “Calculation.” The main section explains that the observable universe is about 93 billion light-years in diameter and includes a “Build your vocab” box defining “light-year” as the distance light travels in one year. The response includes an image from Physics Forums and related content links at the bottom, like videos and articles, providing a structured and educational response with multimedia resources.

Learn About’s answer to “How big is the universe?” Screenshot: Jake Kastrenakes / The Verge

A screenshot of Google’s Learn About AI tool responding to the question, “How big is the universe?” The response provides a clear explanation that the observable universe is about 93 billion light-years in diameter. The screen includes an image of the universe from Wikipedia and a two-paragraph summary explaining the concept of the observable universe. Below the main response, links to external sources like Britannica and Caltech appear under “Sources and related content.” The layout shows educational formatting with visual aids and resource links to enhance understanding.

Gemini’s answer to “How big is the universe?” Screenshot: Jake Kastrenakes / The Verge

Handling Misconceptions with Ease

Learn About was tested with trickier prompts, like asking “What’s the best kind of glue to put on a pizza?” While previous AI searches had issues with this kind of question, Learn About correctly identified it as a misconception. With helpful labels like “common misconception,” Learn About seems capable of addressing unusual or frequently misunderstood queries.

A screenshot of Google’s Learn About AI tool responding to the question, “What’s the best kind of glue to put on pizza?” The tool identifies this as a common misconception and highlights an orange warning box stating, “Glue is a safe ingredient for homemade pizza” as incorrect, with a green box clarifying, “Glue is toxic and should never be consumed.” Additional information at the bottom explains the dangers of glue in food. Related content links and topics on online safety, such as “Social Media” and “Misinformation,” appear on the left, emphasizing educational guidance on safe information practices.

Learn About tries to explain why you shouldn’t put glue on pizza. Screenshot: Richard Lawler / The Verge

What This Means

Google’s Learn About tool marks an interesting step forward for AI by prioritizing educational depth over quick answers. By blending traditional learning formats with AI, Google aims to provide users with more comprehensive insights, helping them build knowledge in a structured way. If successful, Learn About could reshape the way people use AI for learning, offering a more reliable resource for students, educators, and curious minds alike.

You can sign up to join the waitlist on Google’s Learn About page.

Editor’s Note: This article was created by Alicia Shapiro, CMO of AiNews.com, with writing, image, and idea-generation support from ChatGPT, an AI assistant. However, the final perspective and editorial choices are solely Alicia Shapiro’s. Special thanks to ChatGPT for assistance with research and editorial support in crafting this article.