How Google is renovating its search engine for AI

Luke Meredith

Last week, we revealed that Google may be preparing to face some fresh competition for its spot as the #1 search engine in the world from OpenAI.

With OpenAI seemingly aiming to revolutionise search engines through its focus on artificial intelligence (AI), many expected Google to follow suit, and with its latest announcements, it seems to be doing just that.

Google is now beginning to roll out what it calls ‘AI Overviews’. Previously referred to as Search Generative Experience, the feature will provide Google users with an AI-generated summary of findings from their search results.

Google’s new Head of Search, Liz Reid, said this about AI Overviews:

“What we see with generative AI is that Google can do more of the searching for you…It can take a bunch of the hard work out of searching, so you can focus on the parts you want to do to get things done, or on the parts of exploring that you find exciting.”

Google will use its Gemini AI to summarise search queries, search the web and provide direct answers or suggestions, rather than simply providing a range of different web pages with identical information.

However, it recognises that not every search made on Google will require AI’s input in order to give the best user experience.

Reid says that Google will not add AI features to searches that clearly don’t need it. This would include searching directly for something like “Nike” when using Google to find the Nike website.

Google has been exploring, experimenting with and testing various ways of implementing AI into search over the past year or so, but has yet to commit to one approach that fundamentally changes how users interact with its core product.

With AI Overviews now being rolled out in the United States, and soon across the rest of the world, it may finally be committing to AI, amid pressure from potential search engine competitors.

As AI begins to influence how we use search engines to find goods and services, Engage Web will be on hand to ensure our clients are finding increasing success online. For expert digital marketing services, get in touch with our team today.

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Luke Meredith

Content Editor at Engage Web

At home in both the digital sector and the world of communications, Luke thrives on deadlines and has held roles in healthcare, retail and digital marketing, gaining a sound knowledge of a wide range of sectors. He’s a massive swot as well, holding a first-class degree in BA Communication and Media, and now uses his writing skills and keen editorial eye in his role as Content Editor here. Luke helps to oversee our clients’ content requirements, while also looking after a pool of freelance writers across three continents.

How Google is renovating its search engine for AI