Google unveiled AI products at Google IO, its yearly developer conference, escalating the company’s apprehensive entrance into consumer AI alongside competitors. The shift was leading-edged with the release of Google’s generative AI engine, Bard, a move that was poorly received and saw a brief stock value reduction. However, the stocks have since rebounded and Google I/O was an opportunity for the company to call attention to its confidence in AI-driven search.
Introducing Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE), the corporate giant is making drastic changes to its core search product after a quarter-century reign of its signature blue link results. This new version of search generates answers instantly in a “mushrooming green box” that expands in response to each query. It enables users to get quick comprehensive answers without the need to sift through multiple clickable web links.
As the largest and current leading player in the web search market, the SGE project could bring significant changes to the web. Google accounts for 93% of all online searches according to Statcounter, and 68% of online experiences start with a search engine, according to Brightedge Research. The success of this project could threaten the current ad-driven web business model and instead allow Google to remain at the forerunning of search.
To predict the success of SGE, users can look to Microsoft’s results with their AI portals. Their three-months of Bing AI and ChatGPT integration put the company in a 16% increment of hit traffic. While Google SGE is still in its beginning phase with no available data to explain trends, reviews of the Bing AI are mostly positive. Judging from Microsoft’s preview, users should expect Google SGE to bring renewed focus on quality information to filter itself out while incentivizing creators for valuable content.
A notable potential hazard of AI-generated search is the heightened chance of misinforming people due to AI “hallucinations” that mistakenly offer false facts. This danger is concerning for the future of search, and fortunately, both Google and Microsoft are taking care to increase the accuracy and correctness in their search answers.
In terms of content publishers, Google has made it a point to prioritize approaches that benefit “a wide range of creators” while asserting that they are “working with the broader ecosystem”. However, direct feedback regarding publisher compensation is unavailable while the company explores options for incentivizing original content. Social media alternatives for referrals, though popular, have proved unreliable and hard to depend on. The arrival of AI in search might require companies to introduce new business models, such as Spotify-style compensation, in order to keep content flowing and dynamic.
Finally, Imad Khan was introduced as the reporter of Google and internet culture media. Along with The New York Times, The Washington Post, ESPN, Tom’s Guide and Wired, Imad has also co-hosted FTW with Imad Khan, an esports news podcast with Dot Esports. Hailing from Texas, he started his journalism career in 2013 and is now a senior reporter with considerable works.
