Google unveiled a major update to its search engine at its annual developer conference, signaling a shift toward favoring artificial intelligence-generated answers over classic website links. The move announced Tuesday is intended to streamline the user search process while potentially disrupting the flow of internet traffic and revenue for website owners.
In the revamped search engine, conversation summaries created using Google’s artificial intelligence technology will appear at the top of search results pages. These AI overviews will appear sporadically for users in the United States, with plans to expand to other regions in the future. This feature is designed to provide quick and productive answers to intricate queries or brainstorming sessions, complementing classic website links and ads for simpler searches.
Over the past year, Google has been testing AI overhauls with a select group of users, and is now rolling out the feature to a wider audience. The company expects that approximately one billion users will have access to AI-generated summaries by the end of the year.
In addition to improving its search engine, Google showed off advances in other artificial intelligence technologies at the conference. These include Gemini, a technology unveiled five months ago that enables more sophisticated analysis, and “Astra,” an knowledgeable assistant that can understand and remember information displayed through a smartphone’s camera lens.
The decision to incorporate more artificial intelligence into its search engine represents one of the most significant changes for Google since its founding in the overdue 1990s. While this creates opportunities for growth and innovation, it also creates challenges for website owners and may change internet browsing habits.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai emphasized the company’s commitment to the responsible development of AI, stating: “This bold and responsible approach is fundamental to achieving our mission and making AI more useful for everyone.” The introduction of AI-powered search summaries reflects Google’s ongoing efforts to improve user experience and leverage technology to boost efficiency.
(With inputs from AP)
Posted: May 15, 2024 12:36 PM ET
