Google is intensifying its focus on AI-generated search capabilities.
Recently, the tech company announced a significant expansion of AI overviews to more Google Search queries, particularly in areas such as advanced math, coding, and multimodal searches. This enhancement is powered by the newly upgraded model, Gemini 2.0.
The rollout of AI Overviews will also grant access to more users globally, allowing non-logged-in users, including teens, to view AI-generated summaries.
Additionally, Google is testing a dedicated AI search chatbot that integrates real-time search capabilities, enhancing its functionality. The new feature, named AI Mode, is currently being explored in Google’s testing environment known as Labs, hinting at a future where Google Search could predominantly feature AI-generated results.
As Google emphasizes the integration of AI across all its services, the company’s VP of Search noted the increasing reliance on Google Search for tackling complex inquiries. However, it remains to be seen how AI Overviews will address ongoing issues, such as inaccuracies in information retrieval.
Recent evaluations have indicated that while AI Overviews perform adequately for basic queries, they still struggle with more obscure questions, sometimes misinterpreting results from the web. Instances of generating misleading suggestions, like using baking soda for soup thickening, highlight the potential pitfalls of these AI integrations.
Experts suggest that if the foundational search inputs are flawed and AI Overviews fail to identify the issues, users might be misled, compromising Google’s reliability as a search engine.
Though the inaccuracies in AI-generated results have led to some user frustration, Google continues to advance its experiments in this area.
AI Mode positions Google to compete more directly with emerging AI-driven search alternatives. These platforms have begun to attract users seeking chatbot interactions for information, posing a threat to Google’s core search product.
Within Labs, AI Mode appears as a new tab alongside established filters in the Google Search app. This innovative feature utilizes the Gemini 2.0 model, which incorporates reasoning capabilities that improve query processing by breaking down search inputs into detailed instructions for verification.
This methodology aims to minimize inaccuracies, allowing the model to internally verify its outputs rather than relying solely on predictive text generation.
Subscribers to Google One AI Premium can access this feature first, with the opportunity to join a waitlist for those currently enrolled in Labs.
