The startup guide

to generative AI
Make AI work for you. Get to market faster.
Industry leading technology and programs
 Contents
Overview 03 Use cases 10
Customer service automation | Search and recommendations 11

Why Google Cloud? 04 Document search and synthesis | Employee knowledge search and productivity 12

End-to-end platform 05 Use cases by industry 13

Speed and scale 06

The offer for early stage startups 14
Trusted Google factuality 07
Start tier 15
Security, privacy, and guardianship 08
Scale tier 16
Ease of use 09
Let’s create 17

The startup guide to gen AI 2

Overview

Explore the
At its core, gen AI has four capabilities – creation, The easy to implement technology creates advantages
summarization, discovery, and automation in bringing value to the market and rapid development.
– and tends to excel in four broad applications: Gen AI shouldn’t be just for the experts. We believe

boundaries chat, search, content generation, and associative

reasoning. Even with the seemingly endless
in making these tools inclusive, so your entire team
can contribute to the AI revolution, regardless of

of possibility
applications, the adoption of AI is not without their background while ensuring high quality and
its challenges The issues founders, leaders, performance of the products.
software engineers, and product managers need
to wrestle with include: Google Cloud supports your business by delivering
complete solutions as Google Cloud’s advantage
Time to value comes from a cohesive end-to-end platform that
Promising multiple use cases across every provides extensive value from data to model and from
sector of the economy, the adoption Access to powerful tensor processing units insights to activation. That’s why over 70% of all AI
of generative AI is limited only by the bounds (TPUs) and graphics processing units ( GPUs) unicorns build on Google Cloud.
of our collective creativity. It has the potential
to transform customer experiences and Data management, and sovereignty Not only do we provide the platform and performance
employee productivity, accelerate innovation with competitive hardware in our portfolio –
and competitiveness, and fast-track product Security and transparency; and the guidance and the guardrails – we also offer
and service development. The opportunity a comprehensive support system. This includes access
for startups to innovate on and with gen AI Balancing model size with effectiveness and to a vibrant AI community of like‑minded innovators
is huge: one estimate puts gen AI’s impact cost. When it comes to gen AI, models matter, and entrepreneurs, growth opportunities, and exclusive
on global economic productivity at between of course, but bigger is not always better. foundation grants. You can find out more about
$2.6 trillion and $4.4 trillion annually1. the Google AI Startup Program here.

1. McKinsey & Company, The economic potential of generative AI, 2023

The startup guide to gen AI 3

Why
Google Cloud?
Cohesion, scale, trust, and ease-of-use

4
End-to-end
platform
An interconnected technology value chain

Gen AI solutions aren’t built As a result, Google Cloud aims to support every
in a vacuum. They require an data use case – applications, analytics, predictions,
and visualization – and every data user – application
interconnected, end‑to‑end platform
developers and system builder, data engineers, data
that provides essential services from scientists, business users and more.
data to model to insight activation.
They require infrastructure that Crucially, we support you at each stage of the data
is optimized for AI workloads. lifecycle, breaking down data silos, improving the
efficiency and productivity of your data people,
And that’s what Google Cloud
and fostering both a data-as-a-product philosophy
provides: broad value with a unified and a data-driven culture within your organization.
data and AI platform. Rather than spend unnecessary time managing
underlying infrastructure, you can unleash your
expertise on game‑changing projects.

5
Speed and scale
Ready for business. Your business

To successfully expose the power of AI, scale matters. And scale

requires tools and services. That’s why we offer different solutions:

Hardware for every AI workload. Drawing on partners Model Garden on Vertex AI. To accelerate creation, Contact Center AI. Uses natural language processing
like NVIDIA, Intel, AMD, and Arm, we provide customers Model Garden provides a curated collection of 100+ to identify call drivers and sentiment that helps contact
with the widest range of AI-optimized compute options models including foundation model APIs, open source center managers learn about customer interactions.
across TPUs, GPUs, and central processing units (CPUs) models, and task-specific models from Google
for training and serving the most data-intensive models. and third parties. BigQuery and Looker. In addition to gen AI specific
tools, Google Cloud provides scale through its range
Vertex AI. Offers access to Google’s large gen AI Gemini for Google Workspace. An always-on of core services. Notably, these include BigQuery,
models so you can test, tune, and deploy them for collaboration, Gemini for Google Workspace delivers Google’s fully managed, serverless data warehouse that
use in AI-powered applications. Vertex AI allows the power of gen AI embedded across all Google enables scalable analysis over petabytes of data. It also
startups to customise, embed, and interact with Workspace apps to make communicating and organizing includes Looker, an enterprise platform for business
foundation models – and to do so without ML expertise. throughout the day faster, clearer and richer. intelligence, data applications, and embedded analytics
Vertex AI gives you the ability to use the right model that helps you explore and share insights in real time.
for the right job. DocumentAI. A solutions suite that features pre‑trained
models for document processing, Workbench for
custom models, and Warehouse to search and store.

The startup guide to gen AI 6

Trusted Successful gen AI
implementation relies

Google
on the quality of the
underlying model.

factuality
The model should be relevant and creative,
and it must be accurate, authentic, and capable
of protection against unintended consequences.
Google Cloud combines large language models
Dependable outcomes (LLMs), search, and conversation. This allows startups
to ground their answers – both on public search
and in the private domain – in the factuality of Google
search. Google Cloud also provides the guardrails
to ensure conversational bots say the right things
at the right time.

The startup guide to gen AI 7

Security, privacy,
and guardianship
Responsible AI
Google Cloud provides security at scale so you Google Cloud products and product updates
can manage an array of data and models with are guided by Google’s AI Principles, and are
a platform that integrates into your existing user focussed on helping companies control their
security, data management, and entitlements use of IP and data, and to guide an approach
regime. Moreover, Google Cloud ensures that to individual privacy. Moreover, Google was
your first, second and third party data is properly first in the industry to publish an AI/ML Privacy
governed to prevent leakage and infringement of Commitment which outlines our belief that
intellectual property. We are guided by a simple customers should have the highest level
starting principle: your data is your data. of security and control over their data stored
in the cloud. By default, and in accordance with
We also help you identify and fine-tune the GCP Terms and the Cloud Data Processing
right data. This in turn provides two benefits. Addendum we do not use customer data
First, it mitigates hallucinations, minimizing to train our models.
invented answers that both sound convincing
and are hard to spot. Second, the right data Your customer data is only
enhances the explainability of AI, avoiding processed according to your
‘black box’ solutions and, instead, providing
instructions.
the transparency users expect.
The startup guide to gen AI 8
Ease of use Google Cloud has always provided
tools that democratize access, making
Out of the box and ready to go it as easy as possible to get started.
As it is with our broad Google Cloud
offer, so it is with gen AI.
This matters because startups tend to struggle to realize value within
realistic time scales. Consider, for example, that over 40% of startups
take over six months to bring models from concept to live production,
and 80% take over three months2.

Our solutions help you to get to value at speed. Our solutions provide
out of the box tooling and a platform that lets developers embed gen AI
into workflows. And as explored above, our Vertex AI platform lets you
adopt and adapt existing models according to your business needs.
You won’t need to be a deep learning expert for every use case.

2. Google Cloud Gen AI Benchmarking Study, July 2023

The startup guide to gen AI 9

Use cases
Putting the theory into practise
Gen AI applications are likely to penetrate every industry and every
organizational function. McKinsey & Company forecasts that
three‑quarters (75%) of gen AI’s value will be realized across customer
operations, marketing and sales, software engineering, and R&D3.
From retail to manufacturing, from telecommunications to life sciences
and beyond, there’s a relevant, pressing, and viable use case.

Here are just a handful of examples

3. McKinsey & Company, The economic potential of generative AI, 2023 The startup guide to gen AI 10
01 02
Customer service automation Search and recommendations
Improving operations Creating enhanced commerce experiences
Use large language models (LLMs) and conversational AI to help customers get Build personalized search and contextual conversational experiences to help
the answers they need with less human intervention, summarize conversations, your customers have a shopping experience that’s customized in real‑time.
and automate more tasks. Examples include recipe suggestions to accompany Aid complex fashion searches, support hard-to-find grocery searches,
grocery purchases, assistance with a DIY project, or advice on how a clothes and offer lifestyle-relevant recommendations
purchase is likely to fit.

The startup guide to gen AI 11

03 04
Document search and synthesis Employee knowledge search
and productivity
Driving cost and operational efficiency
Improve large document sets understanding to help identify, summarize,
Increasing workforce and operational efficiency
and explain relationships to other documents. Help a relationship manager,
Quickly find the most relevant content via natural language search to reduce
for example, identify relevant contract clauses that need to be updated,
hours of manual work. Build this solution for a global HR leader who wants
then use gen AI applications to create tailored communications to notify
to find out the policy in each region on unused vacation days.
the customer of the change.

The startup guide to gen AI 12

Use cases by industry
Beyond the applications described above, there are a range of potential use cases
that are appropriate for specific vertical markets. Consider, for example:

Financial Services Media and entertainment Telecommunications

• Financial document search and synthesis • Media content discovery • Customer or employee service automation
• Enhanced virtual assistants • Creative assistance • Network planning and operations
• Capital markets research • Internal document and media search • Advertising and creative content assistance
• Regulatory and compliance assistant • Branded consumer interactions • Employee knowledge search
• Personalized financial recommendations • Content summarization and metadata • Test or code script generation
• Contract analysis and negotiation

Healthcare and life sciences Manufacturing Retail and consumer

• Digital patient concierge • Machine-generated events monitoring packaged goods
• Public and private contextual search • Customer service automation • Creative assistance
• Expedite Prior Authorization (PA) • Document search and synthesis • Conversational commerce
• Clinical trial report generation • Product/content catalog discovery • Customer service automation
• Supply chain advisor • New product development

The startup guide to gen AI 13

The offer for early
stage startups
Iterate and innovate faster with our AI startup program
If you are an early stage startup, we offer you additional benefits to get started
on Google Cloud. Through the Google for Startups Cloud Program, you can now
access new benefits for AI startups that give you technology and resources
to build easily. Take advantage of our open AI ecosystem and tap into the best
of Google’s infrastructure, AI products, and foundation models.

The startup guide to gen AI 14

Start tier
For pre-seed AI‑first startups without funding.
[1] Credits can be applied towards Google
Program benefits Eligibility Cloud Services and Select Google Cloud
offerings, subject to the Google for
Startups Cloud Program-Startup Terms.
Take advantage of all Google for Startups Cloud Program benefits • Startups that use AI as their core
[2] Company domain must not have been
and additional AI financial and service benefits: technology to develop their primary subscribed to a paid Google Workspace
plan from within 31 days of applying to the

• Up to $2,000 USD in Google Cloud credits, valid for one year1 products or solutions Google for Startups Cloud Program, to the
day the benefit is requested.

• Apply Google Cloud credits to a Customer Care plan for unlimited access • AI startups not yet funded by an Acceptance into this program is at the
discretion of Google Cloud. We are
to technical support institutional investor or foundation unable to accept companies that have
IPO’d or been acquired, educational
• 12 months of free Google Workspace Business Plus for new signups2 • Founded within the last 5 years institutions, government entities,
nonprofits, personal blogs or content,

• Access AI experts. Webinars and live Q&As with Google Cloud AI product • Not yet received Google Cloud credits dev shops, consultancies, or agencies,
cryptocurrency mining company, or a
managers, engineers, and developer advocates (beyond the free trial) company distributing tokens contrary to
regulatory guidance in your jurisdiction.
See additional benefits here *Startup Equity Funding includes typical
equity investment vehicles that support
Eligibility at the discretion startup growth from accredited angel
investors, Accelerator, Incubators, and
of Google Cloud
Venture Capital firms. Simple Agreement
for Future Equity (SAFE) Agreements
and convertible notes are accepted. To
support the Web3 community, we will also
be accepting verifiable token raises and
blockchain foundation grants. Funding
via Private Equity, government innovation
grants, prize funding, crowdfunding,
To apply visit friends & family funding will not qualify a
cloud.google.com/startup/apply startup for Scale but will be evaluated for
enrollment in Start.

The startup guide to gen AI 15

Scale tier
For seed to series A AI-first startups with equity funding.
[1] Credits can be applied towards Google
Program benefits Eligibility Cloud Services and Select Google Cloud
offerings, subject to the Google for
Take advantage of all Google for Startups • Access AI Experts • Startups that use AI as their core Startups Cloud Program-Startup Terms.
[2] Company domain must not have been
Cloud Program benefits and additional AI ⁃ Webinars and live Q&As with Google Cloud technology to develop their primary
subscribed to a paid Google Workspace
financial and service benefits: AI product managers, engineers, and products or solutions plan from within 31 days of applying to the
Google for Startups Cloud Program, to the
• Up to $350,000 USD over 2 years developer advocates • Have received equity funding* from day the benefit is requested.
for Google Cloud and Firebase ⁃ Insight into Google Cloud’s latest AI seed to series A (if series A, raised within Acceptance into this program is at the
discretion of Google Cloud. We are
usage covered in: advances and product roadmap the last 12 months) or common Web3 unable to accept companies that have

⁃ Year 1: 100% up to $250,000 USD in • Get AI training and resources funding sources IPO’d or been acquired, educational
institutions, government entities,
Google Cloud credits 1 (includes standard ⁃ Free access to advanced hands-on learning • Founded within the last 10 years nonprofits, personal blogs or content,

program credits plus an additional labs focused on AI and the latest Google • Not yet received more than $4,000
dev shops, consultancies, or agencies,
cryptocurrency mining company, or a
$150,000 USD for the AI startup program) Cloud technology in Google Cloud credits company distributing tokens contrary to
regulatory guidance in your jurisdiction.
⁃ Year 2: 20% up to an additional $100,000 ⁃ Exclusive access for ISV/SaaS startups to *Startup Equity Funding includes typical
USD in Google Cloud credits 1 Built with Google Cloud AI, including the equity investment vehicles that support

AI Center of Excellence, tools and training, Eligibility at the discretion startup growth from accredited angel
• $12,000 USD in Google Cloud Enhanced of Google Cloud investors, Accelerator, Incubators, and

Support credits for one year co‑marketing, and amplification on Venture Capital firms. Simple Agreement
Google Cloud Marketplace for Future Equity (SAFE) Agreements
• 12 months of free Google Workspace and convertible notes are accepted. To
⁃ Access to architectural guidance and best support the Web3 community, we will also
Business Plus for new signups 2
practices to get started and ramp on AI be accepting verifiable token raises and
blockchain foundation grants. Funding
solutions, including technical deep dives via Private Equity, government innovation
and hands-on workshops grants, prize funding, crowdfunding,
To apply visit friends & family funding will not qualify a
See additional benefits here cloud.google.com/startup/apply startup for Scale but will be evaluated for
enrollment in Start.

The startup guide to gen AI 16

Let’s
create
Take advantage of gen AI offers today

At Google Cloud, we help startups innovate faster At Google Cloud we have the tools, the platform,
with enterprise-ready gen AI. We have years of and the community to support your innovation, your
enterprise AI experience behind us. Our path-breaking inspiration, your game-changing applications. We have
work in Transformers – open sourced by Google in the experience, too. We have partnered already with
2017 – is illustrative of our long-term commitment. thousands of leading companies and startups such
Our models are the basis of all gen AI applications as Wendy’s, Canva, Uber, Instacart, Deutsche Bank,
seen today. ElevenLabs, Replit, and Jasper. All are using our gen AI
platform to deliver against their business goals.

The startup guide to gen AI 17

Whether you work
for a dedicated AI startup To learn more about our
suite of gen AI tools, visit
cloud.google.com/ai/generative-ai

or are looking to launch

a gen AI project within an
established organization, And to apply for our Start Tier

Google Cloud is here to help. or Scale Tier offers, visit

cloud.google.com/startup/apply

The startup guide to gen AI 18