Reuters
Google is rolling out a novel artificial intelligence (AI) feature that integrates chatbot functions into its search engine, allowing users to engage in conversations akin to consulting an expert.
This “AI Mode” was launched in the U.S. on Tuesday and can be found as an option in the Google search bar.
The initiative, revealed during the company’s annual developers conference in Mountain View, California, is part of Google’s strategy to stay competitive against ChatGPT and other AI platforms that challenge its search engine supremacy.
Additionally, the company announced plans for augmented reality glasses and hinted at a subscription-based AI tool.
Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google-parent Alphabet, mentioned that integrating the Gemini chatbot into search represents a “new phase of the AI platform evolution”.
“With enhanced reasoning capabilities, users can pose longer and more intricate queries to AI,” Pichai explained to the audience.
The company’s move into AI-infused glasses comes over ten years after its introduction of “Google Glasses”, which ultimately didn’t succeed.
The upcoming Google glasses will be developed in collaboration with eyeglass retailers Warby Parker and Gentle Monster, featuring a camera, microphone, and speakers.
With this renewed effort, Google aims to compete with Meta’s AI glasses created in partnership with Ray-Ban.
The company anticipates beginning production of this new product later this year.
Leo Gebbie, principal analyst and director for the Americas at CCS Insight, noted that Google has been expected to incorporate AI more closely into its offerings.
He speculated that the chatbot would reduce the number of web pages users need to navigate while facilitating more complex queries.
“For users, this should equate to less time browsing the web and more time engaging with Google’s AI tools,” he remarked.
Any updates to Google’s search functionality are “of utmost importance,” Gebbie emphasized, as search constitutes most of Google’s revenue.
These announcements also emerge as the company confronts a legal battle in the U.S. over potential changes to its business model after a ruling determined it holds a monopoly in search.
Challenging Path Ahead
Google’s recent efforts to weave more AI into its services have had mixed outcomes.
Its AI Overviews feature, showcased at last year’s developers conference, provides AI-generated summaries that currently display at the top of search results.
Initially, the feature faced criticism, with users sharing bizarre responses—such as advice suggesting that non-toxic glue could cause cheese to adhere to pizza.
Another infamous suggestion was that geologists recommend people eat a rock daily.
A Google spokesperson remarked that these were “isolated incidents.”
Mr. Pichai noted on Tuesday that AI Overviews now receive 1.5 billion monthly uses across over 200 countries and territories.
In key markets like the U.S. and India, AI Overviews contribute more than 10% to growth in the types of queries showing them, Pichai stated.
“It’s one of the most successful search feature launches in the past decade,” he added.
