SAN FRANCISCO — Google is enhancing its search engine with advanced artificial intelligence capabilities that will allow users to ask questions about images using their voice and, in some instances, present an organized page of results. This update comes despite previous issues with misleading information generated by the technology.
These latest improvements, announced recently, mark a significant step in Google’s AI transformation, which began earlier this year with the introduction of “AI Overviews” that summarize responses at the top of search results. This innovation has raised concerns among content publishers about a potential decline in website traffic, crucial for their digital ad revenue.
In response, Google plans to include more links to external websites within the AI Overviews, aiming to alleviate the traffic decline experienced by general news outlets and technology review sites, as highlighted by recent analyses.
Notably, the same analysis indicated that citations in AI Overviews are driving traffic to specialized sites, demonstrating a shift in user engagement patterns.
Google is betting heavily on AI as the future of its search platform, a key asset within its expansive tech empire. This strategy reflects a significant shift in the industry, comparable to the impact of the first iPhone launch.
The next phase of Google’s AI journey builds upon its 7-year-old Lens feature, which answers queries about objects in images and currently handles over 20 billion queries each month. This feature is particularly appealing to a younger audience, a demographic Google aims to attract amid growing competition from AI-driven alternatives.
With the latest updates, users can now verbally inquire in English about what they are viewing through their camera, receiving relevant search results. Those participating in testing will be able to film moving subjects, like fish in an aquarium, while asking questions and receiving AI-generated answers.
The objective is to simplify search functionality, making it more accessible for users, according to a Google search engineering executive. However, the integration of AI also brings risks, as inaccuracies could erode trust in Google’s search results. While the company has faced criticism for previous AI-generated misinformation, it believes it has rectified many of these issues.
Confident in its new capabilities, Google intends to utilize AI for presenting results related to recipes and meal ideas, organizing them into distinct groups, such as photos, videos, and articles.
