Google’s AI Search Update 2024: A Revolutionary Step

A year ago, Google stated that it believed AI was the future of search. That future is now here, as the tech giant rolls out its “AI Overviews” feature, previously known as the Search Generative Experience (SGE), to users in the US and soon around the world. This marks a significant shift in how billions of Google users will interact with search results, as the company leverages the power of artificial intelligence to transform the way we find and consume information online.

Liz Reid, Google’s newly installed head of Search, has been working on AI search initiatives for the past few years. She explains that the goal of these new features is to “Do more of the searching for you,” taking the hard work out of the process so users can focus on the parts they find most exciting or useful.”What we see with generative AI is that Google can do more of the searching for you,” says Reid.

“It can take a bunch of the hard work out of searching, so you can focus on the parts you want to do to get things done, or on the parts of exploring that you find exciting.”

Some of the key AI-powered features Google has introduced include:

• AI Overviews: Providing AI-generated summaries at the top of search results to give users a general understanding of the query, without the need to sift through multiple links.
• Lens Video Search: Allowing users to search by capturing a video, expanding the range of inputs beyond just text and images.
• Automated Trip Planning and Meal Planning: Generating personalized itineraries and meal plans based on a single query, saving users time and effort.
• Intelligent Result Organization: Organizing search results based on the user’s intent, such as separating restaurant listings for date night versus business meetings, to provide a more tailored experience.

These features demonstrate Google’s commitment to making search more intuitive and accessible, empowering users to find the information they need with greater ease and efficiency.

Google is using its Gemini AI model to understand the user’s intent, whether they are typing, speaking, taking a picture, or shooting a video. However, the company is careful to strike a balance between creativity and factuality with these language models. Reid emphasizes that Google is “really going to skew it toward the factuality side,” ensuring that AI Overviews provide accurate information, even if they may not be as fun or charming as other AI-generated content. This approach aims to address the concerns raised about platforms like Perplexity and Arc, which have been criticized for summarizing web content without proper attribution.”There’s a balance between creativity and factuality” with any language model, Reid says. “We’re really going to skew it toward the factuality side.” By prioritizing accuracy over entertainment value, Google hopes to build trust and confidence in its AI-powered search results.

While AI-powered search features may undercut low-value content, Google believes they will ultimately lead to more clicks to the open web. Reid notes that users, especially younger ones, are still seeking human perspectives and expertise, which quality websites can provide.

“If you think about [links] as digging deeper, websites that do a great job of providing perspective or color or experience or expertise — people still want that,” Reid explains. She emphasizes that it’s still Google’s job to connect users with these valuable sources of information, even as the search experience becomes more AI-driven. Google’s overarching goal is to make search more intuitive and accessible, allowing users to ask questions in a more natural way and receive helpful responses. This shift towards AI-driven search represents a significant evolution in how people interact with the internet, potentially reducing the need for extensive keyword-based searches and tab-hopping.

While AI-powered search features may undercut low-value content, Google believes they will ultimately lead to more clicks to the open web. Reid notes that users, especially younger ones, are still seeking human perspectives and expertise, which quality websites can provide. “If you think about [links] as digging deeper, websites that do a great job of providing perspective or color or experience or expertise — people still want that,” Reid explains. She emphasizes that it’s still Google’s job to connect users with these valuable sources of information, even as the search experience becomes more AI-driven.

Google’s overarching goal is to make search more intuitive and accessible, allowing users to ask questions in a more natural way and receive helpful responses. This shift towards AI-driven search represents a significant evolution in how people interact with the internet, potentially reducing the need for extensive keyword-based searches and tab-hopping.