Google and UK's Vodafone have announced a 10-year extension of their existing partnership, aimed at delivering AI-driven services, devices, and enhanced TV experiences to millions of customers across Europe and Africa. This collaboration will leverage Google Cloud and its Gemini AI models to support Vodafone's offerings in 15 countries, with benefits extending to 45 additional markets through Vodafone’s partners. Additionally, Google will use Vodafone's fixed and mobile connectivity services to improve workforce productivity.
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AI-Powered Services and Devices
"Vodafone and Google will work together to improve and expand the range of products and services available in stores and online, supported by a refreshed customer experience rooted in the benefits of AI," Google said in a joint statement on Tuesday.
The expanded partnership will integrate Google's AI capabilities to enhance Vodafone's services, including cloud storage, cybersecurity, and AI-powered assistance for consumers and businesses. Vodafone customers can expect a broader range of products, including Google One subscription plans, YouTube Premium products, AI-powered offerings, Pixel, and other Android devices, the companies said.
Margherita Della Valle, Vodafone Group Chief Executive, said: "Together, Vodafone and Google will put new AI-powered content and devices into the hands of millions of more consumers. Using these services, our customers can discover new ways to learn, create and communicate, as well as consume TV, on a scale we haven’t seen before."
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Powering Vodafone TV with Gen AI
Vodafone and Google will work towards enhancing Vodafone TV (powered by Android TV) with new content discovery features and ad experiences driven by Google Cloud's generative AI. Additionally, Vodafone plans to develop cloud-native cybersecurity solutions using Google's Security Operations platform, offering advanced protection for businesses and consumers alike.
"Our expanded partnership with Vodafone will help bring our most advanced AI products and services, including our Gemini models, to more people across Europe and Africa," said Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet. "I'm excited to see how Vodafone's consumers, small businesses and governments, will use generative AI and Google Cloud to transform the way they work and access information."
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Vodafone to Leverage Google AI services
With this expanded partnership, Vodafone will use Vertex AI, Google Cloud's enterprise-ready AI platform, to build, deploy, and scale machine learning models and AI applications powered by Google's Gemini models. This will help increase the speed and ease with which Vodafone's operating companies in multiple countries can innovate and launch new products, Vodafone said.
Google will also create a generative AI training program for Vodafone employees to help them enhance their digital skills and operational efficiencies by using scaled AI applications internally and with partners.
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Through this partnership, Vodafone aims to put AI-powered cloud, content, and connectivity into the hands of more people, the official release said. Vodafone will also help customers learn about AI features with improved online guides, dedicated in-store experiences, and newly trained staff.
