Google Labs presents a sneak peek at the community-powered AI experiments, each with its individual sign-up and availability requirements. And while the name has a “lab” in it, it has something for everybody, irrespective of the level of technical expertise.
At present, Google Labs is focused on a ground-breaking AI innovation: Generative AI.
In a nutshell, generative AI is the closest machines have ever come to matching human creativity. Tools powered with such technology can write articles, do poetry, code, draw images, compose music, and more while keeping the content original.
To clarify, Google Labs isn’t a single AI utility but a collection of experimental features. And though they overlap sometimes, Google Labs is bigger than Google Workspace Labs, which is primarily focused on its productivity suite alone.
In this article, we’ll explore a few Google Labs experiments. Let’s begin.
How to Access Google Labs?
Visit lab.google.com/ to get started. You will find a range of AI experiments to pick from. As already mentioned, the availability of these tools varies based on the region, language, device, etc.
There are many tools open for immediate testing, flaunting a “TRY IT NOW” button, which you can click to begin your preview. For others, you have the “JOIN WAITLIST” or “LEARN MORE” options, explaining the process further.
How to Use Google Labs?
I have tried some of these Google Labs AI tools, and my experience is shared in the following sections. You will learn about any specific sign-up requirements and my brief hands-on review of the available tools.
ImageFX
ImageFX is a text-to-AI image tool currently available in the US, Kenya, New Zealand, and Australia. But you can still try ImageFX with a VPN from other locations.
After signing in with your Google account, you get into the ImageFX interface with a prompt space on the left and the AI outputs on the right.
You can modify the output by adding in the suggestions given below the prompt space, choosing from the dropdowns, or starting over with an entirely new input.
The ImageFX interface lets you lock the seed to create similar outputs. You can also download and share the image with others.
ImageFX has a daily quota limit, allowing fair trial for the community members.
NotebookLM
NotebookLM is a Google Search Labs generative AI tool that enables you to interact with a custom database. For instance, you can upload PDF documents to ask NotebookLM questions about it or prepare a summary, blog post, and more.
The first step is to click the “+” sign to create a new notebook.
Now, one has to add the resources. NotebookLM currently supports text files, which you can upload from the local device or Google Drive or copy-paste the text directly.
Subsequently, select the resources from the left and query in the central prompt space.
NotebookLM did well in my brief testing and gave out correct information that matched the uploaded database.
But what’s particularly helpful is the citations, where you can click, and it’ll tell the exact lines it took information from on the left.
Overall, I’m impressed with NotebookLM and can’t wait for its commercial launch. The only drawback is that it’s currently exclusive to US users, requiring something like a VPN for those outside the United States to access it.
MusicFX
MusicFX is a text-to-AI music tool open for users in the US, Kenya, New Zealand, and Australia. It has a clean, two-panel interface with the option to prompt on the left and the results appearing on the right.
MusicFX is based on Google’s MusicLM and can produce instrumental music without following any specific artist’s style or including vocals.
The bottom right panel hosts settings, download, and sharing options. MusicFX settings allow the seed to be locked down to produce consistent results. Besides, you can fix the track length (30, 50, or 70 seconds) or loop the responses.
I found the MusicFX outputs to be lacking variety, especially within the batch that gets generated with a single prompt. Still, it represents a significant milestone in which AI creates music from plain text.
TextFX
TextFX has multiple generative AI tools for getting creative with the written word. For instance, it’s R.A.P. creates phrases with the given letters. Similarly, you can use A_A_ to find words in any domain starting with the selected letter.
TextFX has a Temperature slider that ranges from 0 to 1, with higher values returning more creative and possibly less accurate outputs.
This experimental AI tech is based on Google’s PaLM 2, which is a large language model with ChatGPT-like capabilities.
I found TextFX to be entertaining. However, some tools can result in substandard outputs, missing the very obvious elements. For instance, I used its Unfold mini-tool to present words and phrases containing the input word, phone, and it missed the most common result–smartphone. Take a look:
Overall, it’s a good start, but it will be even better once it results exhaustively.
As of now, TextFX is available for testing in the US, Kenya, New Zealand, and Australia.
Poem Postcards
Poem Postcards is a fun little AI experiment to send art-themed digital postcards enriched with poetry. You can click Launch experiment on its home page to select the type of poem, artwork, and a few optional words.
Clicking Write a poem creates AI poetry, matching the artwork:
While I’m not an expert poetry judge, Limericks generally follows the AABBA rhyming scheme, which wasn’t there in this AI creation. Still, it’s playful and has five lines resembling a limerick.
Overall, it was good creating AI poetry with Poem Postcards, and the artwork felt like a cherry on the cake.
Project IDX
ProjectIDX is a full-stack, multi-platform app development platform. Based on Google Cloud, Project IDX presents a web interface, enabling you to develop an entire application from a web browser on any device.
Project IDX simplifies app development by offering templates for popular frameworks (Angular, Astro, Flutter, Go, Next.js, etc.), allowing developers to create applications that are compatible across platforms.
IDX allows developers to customize their environment with Nix, import existing GitHub projects, and work with a diverse set of technology stacks.
This Google Lab tool has full support for previewing applications with multi-browser web previews, Android emulators, and iOS simulators. Besides, you get generative AI coding assistance for code generation, completion, explanations, etc.
Currently, Project IDX isn’t open for new users, but you can still join their waitlist.
Magic Compose
Magic Compose is a generative AI-based beta feature currently available to selected Google One Premium members using the Google Messages application.
This can suggest entire message responses based on the conversation history. In addition, Magic Compose can transform your text in various styles and tones, such as excited, professional, chill, and lyrical, or even help you write like Shakespeare.
Google LLC confirms that it “doesn’t store messages or use them to train machine learning models.”
Magic Compose is currently available in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Korean languages.
Help Me Script
Help Me Script is powered by generative AI to convert natural language prompts into powerful Google Home automation scripts. This is an innovative platform for anyone who does not know how to code and yet wants to customize their Google Home the way they see fit.
These AI-powered language tools allow forming commands from prompts from the Help me script panel on the right. After generating the code snippet, one can copy-paste it into the editor, validate it, and save it to activate the automation.
FAQs
Google Labs is a collection of community-created experiments focussed on the AI-infused future of technology. For instance, it has AI tools for poetry, Google Home scripts, cloud coding, writing, messaging, and more.
You can visit Google Labs and select any specific experiment to join. Some are readily available, while others are invite-only.
AI-assisted Future!
Google Labs hosts some of the finest AI experiments to help us take a sneak peek at the future of consumer technology. Some of these Google Labs AI tools are just made for fun (such as Poem Postcards), and a few, like Project IDX, are meant to redefine software development.
Overall, I believe Google Labs can offer a generative AI experience to most internet users, and you should jump into it right away.