Google’s New AI Tool Wants to Teach You Everything—But Does It Deliver?

Google is back at it again, dabbling in experimental tech that may or may not stick around longer than a season of Big Brother Naija. This time, the tech giant wants to school you—literally. Enter Learn About, a shiny new AI-powered learning tool designed to teach complex concepts without frying your brain. Think of it as the nerdy cousin of Google’s Gemini chatbot, but with a little more pizzazz and a lot more textbook vibes.

What Exactly Is Learn About?

On the surface, Learn About might seem like yet another chatbot cashing in on the AI hype. But dig deeper, and you’ll find it’s more like a digital teacher who actually knows how to keep things fun. Powered by Google’s LearnLM model, this web app is tailored for teaching and learning. It’s conversational, approachable, and sprinkles quizzes, images, and videos throughout its lessons—kind of like that cool teacher who doesn’t just drone on about Faraday’s Law but makes you want to learn it.

Unlike Gemini, Learn About gets its facts straight(er) by relying on Google Search to pull real-time info, citing sources like a proper scholar. That means fewer hallucinations (AI speak for “wildly incorrect answers”) and more credible explanations.

But Is It Any Good?

Short answer: kind of.

For academic topics, Learn About shines. When I asked it to explain wireless charging, it broke the topic into digestible pieces, complete with clickable links to electromagnetic induction and Faraday’s Law. Gemini, by comparison, offered a basic answer and called it a day. If you’re casually curious or looking for a quick crash course, Learn About feels like a smarter, more interactive option.

However, if you’re hoping for a deep dive, you might be disappointed. Its responses, while structured, can feel surface-level, and the quizzes are, well, a bit lame. Two-answer questions that pop up randomly during a lesson? Google, you can do better.

A Flashy Interface With Substance (Mostly)

Let’s talk about the visuals. The interface is where Learn About really flexes. It’s colorful, engaging, and packed with multimedia elements. Think bright charts, interactive chiplets, and vibrant info blocks. It’s like Google took inspiration from Duolingo but left out the passive-aggressive owl.

That said, all the flash doesn’t always equal depth. While it’s great for overview-style learning, don’t expect it to replace your physics textbook anytime soon. Case in point: when I asked about USB Power Delivery, it claimed a max charging power of 100W. Wrong. It’s been 240W for years now. So, accuracy? Still a work in progress.

Should You Care?

Will it stick around long enough to graduate from experimental to essential? Only time (and Google’s commitment issues) will tell. Until then, Learn About is a fun, flashy way to scratch that itch for learning—just don’t expect it to ace your finals for you.

Oh, and if you’re eager to give it a shot, you’ll need a U.S.-based IP address to sign up. So, fire up that VPN and get learning. Who knows? Maybe this time, Google’s experiment will actually make the honor roll.