In a groundbreaking update, Google is set to introduce AI-generated answers to search queries in the United States, marking the most significant overhaul of its search engine in a quarter-century.
“I’m excited to announce that we will begin launching this fully revamped experience, ‘AI overviews,’ to everyone in the US this week,” declared Sundar Pichai, Google’s CEO, at an event in California on Tuesday, May 14.
These AI-generated summaries, created using Google’s advanced Gemini technology, will now appear at the top of search results, providing concise, relevant information with direct links to the original sources. This innovation aims to enhance user experience by delivering quick, reliable answers without the need for extensive scrolling.
“You can ask whatever’s on your mind or whatever you need to get done – from researching to planning to brainstorming – and Google will take care of the legwork,” explained Liz Reid, head of the Google Search team.
This significant change comes in response to increasing competition from AI-powered search engines like Perplexity and the anticipated entry of OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT, into the search market. Additionally, platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp have begun integrating AI chat-based searches, allowing users to access web information without relying on Google.
Pichai also announced plans to expand this feature globally, potentially reaching over a billion users. This update signifies a pivotal moment in the evolution of search technology, promising to redefine how we interact with information on the internet.
