University students in UAE can get Google AI Plus free for one year. Here's how to register

Dubai: The UAE Government’s Artificial Intelligence Office, in cooperation with Google, announced that a range of advanced artificial intelligence tools and technologies will be made available to university students in the UAE, as part of the ‘Google AI Plus’ plan, free of charge for one year, in a move aimed at supporting students’ academic journey and enhancing their ability to employ artificial intelligence applications in learning, research and creativity. This step comes as part of the UAE government’s efforts to empower students with modern digital skills and tools, and to prepare a generation capable of effectively and responsibly utilising the growing potential of artificial intelligence, thereby supporting national capacity building and enhancing the readiness of young talents for the demands of the future. Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Omar Sultan Al Olama, affirmed that the UAE leadership adopts a proactive vision that places human beings at the heart of its journey towards the future, through sustainable investment in empowering new generations with the knowledge, skills and opportunities that enhance their readiness to contribute to the development process, and contribute to consolidating the UAE’s position as a global model in anticipating and shaping the future. Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Omar Sultan Al Olama. Picture credit: Supplied He said that the next stage requires moving from using artificial intelligence tools to building a deeper understanding of how to employ them responsibly in learning and research. He stressed that enabling students with the latest models and tools, and developing their skills in using them, contributes to establishing a culture of continuous learning, exploration and innovation, and gives them the ability to expand the horizons of knowledge and innovate new solutions. It also enhances their role in designing a future based on artificial intelligence. The Google AI Plus plan provides students with access to a range of artificial intelligence tools that support study, research, and content production, including the Gemini app and advanced search technologies, as well as tools that help organise sources and information, summarise study materials and references, and prepare research papers. Registration can be done directly via the link google/studentoffer26-uae. The features also include AI-powered tools for creating images and videos, as well as the Gemini Notebook, which allows students to access academic materials and resources, prepare summaries, and utilise interactive audio content, all with 400GB of storage. Through collaboration between the Office of Artificial Intelligence and Google, a series of virtual and in-person training programs will be organised for university students. These programs aim to develop their skills in using Gemini and Gemini Notebook for study, research, and information exploration, while promoting responsible AI practices. The UAE, through its partnerships with global technology institutions, continues to strengthen its integrated AI capacity-building ecosystem and solidify its position as a global hub for developing and adopting advanced technologies, with a focus on empowering future generations with the tools and skills necessary for active participation in the economy of the future. The program's expansion follows the success of last year's initiative for university students, and this year it will include a larger number of students in the Arab region, offering the benefits of the Google Gemini app in Arabic on both Android and iOS. University students registered in the UAE and aged 18 and over can register for the plan free of charge for a full year, provided they register by December 31 at: google/studentoffer26-uae. The collaboration comes as part of the ‘AI for All’ initiative launched by the AI Office and Google in 2024, which aims to expand the use of AI technologies, develop basic skills in this field, support related research, and develop solutions and applications that contribute to serving different segments of society.