Google LLC is bringing its most powerful artificial intelligence models to public-sector institutions with the upcoming launch of Gemini in Google Distributed Cloud for Secret and Top Secret Workloads early next year.

The announcement was made today at Google’s Public Sector Summit, an event focused on the latest developments in Google Public Sector, a version of the Google Cloud that’s specifically targeted at government agencies.

Google Distributed Cloud enables customers to bring the Google Cloud software stack into their own data center servers and run it locally. In that way, customers can run various on-premises applications with the same Google Cloud application programming interfaces, control planes, hardware and tooling they use with their cloud hosted apps. The service has proven to be especially popular for government agencies that cannot bring their data into the cloud due to strict privacy and compliance requirements.

Gemini in GDC will launch on Google Public Sector in early 2025, enabling public sector agencies running Google Cloud’s services on-premises to access advanced AI capabilities for the first time. For instance, they’ll be able to create next-generation AI agents such as coding assistants to assist developers in writing code, and copilots that can help government workers extract instant insights from their data to enhance decision-making.

Though the Gemini models have been available in the regular Google Cloud platform for some months already, they’re yet to come to Google Public Sector given the enhanced security requirements of government agencies. Gemini in GDC changes that, as it provides access to air-gapped versions of Google’s powerful large language models. This means they adhere to the highest standards of security, compliance and privacy needed to protect sensitive government data.

A playbook for CAIOs

Alongside the launch of its Gemini models for public sector customers, Google said it’s working with federal agencies to help them adhere to a recent White House executive order that has instructed them to hire a chief artificial intelligence officer or CAIO by the end of this year.

To do this, Google commissioned the analyst firm International Data Corp. to create The Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer Playbook, which it says is a “practical guide for advancing AI innovation in government.”

According to Google, the playbook provides guidance to U.S. federal agencies as they look to outline the duties and responsibilities of the CAIO. It’s said to explore both the challenges and opportunities relating to the role, while offering comparisons to similar roles and guidance on clear role definition, stakeholder engagement and project success.

Funding for AI upskilling

Public sector agencies aren’t just looking for leadership in terms of AI. They also need the skills to take advantage of the technology, and once again Google wants to help. At the event, it revealed that it’s providing $15 million in funding to the Partnership for Public Service and InnovateUS, to help upskill the U.S. government workforce in responsible AI practices.

According to Google, the grants will help to establish a Center for Federal AI, which will be a hub for cultivating AI leadership and talent within federal government organizations. In addition, the money will be used to create no-cost, at-your-own-pace AI training courses, workshops and programs for public sector organizations.

Accelerating biomedical research

Finally, Google is joining with 11 independent software providers on the launch of the Google Cloud NIH STRIDES Marketplace, which is described as a one-stop shop for biomedical researchers.

It was launched as part of the National Institute of Health Science and Technology Research Infrastructure for Discovery, Experimentation and Sustainability, or STRIDES, initiative. It’s aimed at enabling scientists at public sector organizations to discover, purchase and deploy various cloud-based services from Google and its partners that can aid in biomedical research programs.

Inaugural partners include Redis Inc., Box for Life Sciences, Augmedix Inc., Sorcero Inc., MongoDB Inc., Weka.io Inc., Form Bio Inc., Red Hat Inc., Rhino Health and Aiforia Technologies Inc.

Photo: Google