Google visits campus to introduce new AI research tools
Google recently teamed up with the electrical and computer engineering department at Texas A&M through an on-campus workshop to introduce novel artificial intelligence technology for research.
Google representative Cassidy Suarez introduces lecturers Adnan Khaleel and Bhanchand Prasad at the AI Workshop.
The Wisenbaker Engineering Building at Texas A&M University recently became a hub for the next evolution in engineering research. The electrical and computer engineering department hosted an all-day workshop led by Google on Jan. 26, where attendees learned how to advance from using simple chatbots to AI research agents that can act as active partners in a lab.
The event provided students, faculty and researchers with a deep dive into new tools like Gemini and AI Co-Scientist, showing how these systems can help manage complex data and speed up the pace of discovery.
The morning sessions challenged attendees to rethink the role of AI. For years, it has been seen as a basic tool — a faster way to search the internet or check a line of code. Google’s team introduced the next step forward with an “AI Scientist” concept, where AI doesn’t just answer questions, but works alongside engineers to propose new ideas and plan experiments.
A hands-on and engaging learning experience
Participants looked at real-world examples of how these AI “partners” can handle the more time-consuming and tedious elements of research, allowing engineers to spend less time on repetitive tasks and more time on creative breakthroughs and big-picture problem-solving. These tasks include summarizing thousands of scientific papers in minutes, suggesting new theories to test, or predicting which experiments are most likely to succeed before any physical lab work begins.
During a Q&A session, researchers also discussed how to bring these automated workflows into the labs at Wisenbaker. The afternoon session featured two intensive, hands-on labs where students applied Google’s tools to common engineering challenges.
The hands-on lab examined the “brains” of modern computers, tasking students with designing a new type of AI chip. This lab used a designer vs. reviewer approach, where one AI agent would suggest a design for the chip’s memory, while a second searched for flaws that might slow it down.
By using AI to simulate how these designs would perform in the real world, students were able to find the best balance between speed and power use. The result was a detailed plan for a high-powered AI processor, proving that AI could help build the hardware of the future.
“AI is transforming how we work,” said Sarat Bobbili, a Ph.D. student who attended the workshop. “Coming from a theoretical background, I’m especially struck by the rapid progress AI is making in fundamental disciplines like the sciences, far beyond computing systems. I believe it’s increasingly important to be literate in using these tools effectively.”
Investing in the future
The partnership between Google and Texas A&M provides students and faculty with essential skills as AI becomes more integrated with engineering. By bringing the latest AI research tools directly to the classroom, the electrical and computer engineering department seeks to ensure the next generation of engineers is ready to work alongside AI partners from day one.
“The engineering challenges of tomorrow cannot be solved with the workflows of yesterday,” said Adnan Khaleel ’99, Google lecturer. “We are proud to collaborate with a leading institution like Texas A&M to equip the next generation of engineers with the cutting-edge tools they need to lead the future workforce.”
