Student Setup Guide

Google Colab & AI Studio

The MenaML interactive labs utilize Google Colab and Google AI Studio. Both are cloud-based platforms, meaning you do not need to install complex software or own a powerful computer. All computation happens on Google’s servers.

Prerequisites

• Device: Any laptop or desktop computer (Windows, macOS, Linux, or Chromebook). Tablets are possible but not recommended for coding.

• Browser: Google Chrome (Highly Recommended) or Firefox. Safari and Edge may work but can occasionally have compatibility issues.

• Account: A valid Google Account (Gmail).

Google Colab Setup

Google Colab is a "notebook" environment that allows you to write and run Python code in your browser. See getting started guide for more information.

• How to Access:

1. Navigate to colab.research.google.com.

2. Sign in with your Google Account.

3. Click "New Notebook" to verify you can access the interface.

• Installation: None required.

• Hardware: You will have free access to Google’s cloud CPUs and GPUs. You do not need a dedicated graphics card on your physical machine.

⚡ Important: Changing Your Runtime (GPU/TPU)

Some labs in this course require high-performance hardware (like a GPU) to run efficiently. You must manually enable this setting.

1. Open your Colab notebook.

2. In the top menu, click Runtime > Change runtime type.

3. Under Hardware accelerator, select T4 GPU (or TPU if specified by your lab instructions).

4. Click Save.

   • Note: The notebook will reload and reconnect to a new machine. This may take a few seconds.

Google AI Studio Setup (Building with GenAI Workshop)

Google AI Studio is a prototyping environment for using Gemini models. You will need this to generate an API key for your code. See quickstart guide for more information.

• How to Access:

1. Navigate to aistudio.google.com.

2. Sign in with your Google Account.

• Get Your API Key:

1. On the left sidebar (or top-left corner), click "Get API key".

2. Click "Create API key".

3. Select "Create API key in new project" (unless you already have a Google Cloud project you wish to use).

4. Copy the key string (it starts with AIza...) and save it securely. Do not share this key publicly.

• Why do I need this key: While you can chat with Gemini on the web for free, this lab involves writing software that sends instructions to the model programmatically. The API key acts like a unique password that allows your specific code to connect to Google's servers, send prompts, and receive answers securely. Without it, your code will be rejected by the server.

⚠️ Important Note on School/Work Accounts

Are you using a university or enterprise email address (e.g., @university.edu)?

Institutions often manage Google Workspace accounts with strict permissions. Your administrator may have disabled access to "Additional Google Services" like Colab or AI Studio.

• The Check: Try to log in to aistudio.google.com now.

• The Error: If you see a message saying "Access to this service is restricted" or "Contact your administrator," your institutional account is blocked from using these tools.

• The Solution: Please use a personal Gmail account (e.g., name@gmail.com) for all coursework involving these tools. This is the standard workaround and ensures you have full access to the free tier features.