Google is testing a new version of its search engine that operates exclusively with artificial intelligence (AI). The company, through its parent company Alphabet, has announced the launch of a trial version of its search engine that completely eliminates the classic 10 blue links and instead displays a summary generated by AI.
AI-Powered Search
According to Google, this new feature is available exclusively to AI Premium plan subscribers and can be accessed through the Google One platform. Users can find this feature by selecting the "AI Mode" tab on the search results page alongside other options such as images and maps.
In a blog post, Google’s Vice President of Product, Ruby Stein, mentioned, "We heard from premium users that they want AI-driven responses for more of their search queries."
The AI Premium plan on the Google One platform is a $19.99 per month service that provides additional cloud storage and exclusive access to certain AI features.
Currently, Google offers "AI Overviews," which are summaries that appear above traditional links to related web pages, providing users with concise information directly within the search results. These summaries are already available in over 100 countries and were initially introduced in May, with ads being added to AI Overviews in the same month.
Enhanced AI Summaries
Along with the new AI mode in Google search, users will see more comprehensive AI-generated summaries with links to the related web pages. This new format replaces the traditional ten blue links with direct AI-generated summaries that offer a more holistic view of the search results.
Google stated that the new AI mode is powered by a custom version of its Gemini 2.0 model, which is equipped with better reasoning capabilities to handle complex queries.
Shifting Nature of Search
Google’s search engine has always relied on AI algorithms to rank web pages in search results, a process that has been evolving for a while. Over time, Google has made several changes to its user interface, providing answers directly in the search page rather than directing users to external websites. An example of such changes is the Knowledge Graph feature, which is used in the AI summaries.
What's different about these new systems is the integration of AI technology with popular social media platforms, which have embraced AI for communication in a strong way. The concept of responding to our questions in a conversational manner is something we’ve gotten used to, thanks to messaging apps like WhatsApp, Messenger, TikTok, and Instagram. Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Alphabet, mentioned earlier in 2023 that this was the company’s vision for the future of Google Search — engaging with users in a conversational manner to answer their queries.
Social media platforms have indeed changed how we interact with information online, with many people now seeking information through TikTok, Instagram photos, or YouTube videos. These mediums are seen as offering a more human, visual experience compared to traditional search engine results from Google.
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