Google announces new AI search feature

CNBC Television
14 May 202403:40

TLDRGoogle has announced a new AI search feature at its annual developer conference. This feature, previously known as Search Generative Experience, will transform the traditional search results from a list of ten blue links to an AI-enhanced experience. The AI Overviews and Search will be launched across the U.S. this week, with plans to expand to more countries later in the year. Additionally, Google's chat bot, Gemini, has gained over a million sign-ups in the past three months. Google is also introducing the concept of an AI agent, which is a more advanced form of chat bot, capable of reasoning and engaging in back-and-forth conversations. The company is exploring the integration of ads within the generative AI answers, although the impact on the business model remains unclear.

Takeaways

  • 🚀 Google is launching AI Overviews and Search across the U.S., marking a significant shift in the search experience by incorporating generative AI.
  • 🔍 The new search feature will move away from the traditional ten blue links and instead use AI to provide a more personalized and dynamic search experience.
  • 📈 Google plans to roll out the AI-enhanced search to more countries throughout the year, indicating a global expansion of this new technology.
  • 📊 Over a million people have signed up to try Gemini, Google's more advanced chat bot that functions as an answer machine, within the last three months.
  • 🆚 In comparison to ChatGBT, which reached 100 million monthly active users within two months of launch, Google's approach with Gemini seems more measured.
  • 💡 Google is introducing the concept of an 'AI agent', which is an evolution from chat bots to a more sophisticated system capable of reasoning and engaging in back-and-forth conversations.
  • 📢 The CEO highlighted the potential of AI agents in workspace applications, suggesting a broader application of this technology beyond search.
  • 🤔 There are questions about the impact on advertising with the new search feature, as Gemini currently does not integrate ads in a traditional sense.
  • 📉 The reporter points out that the number of ads seen by users with the new feature is not yet clear, raising concerns about the business model and user experience.
  • 💰 The challenge for Google will be to maintain its ad revenue strategy within the generative AI world without compromising the quality of the search experience.
  • ⏳ As the head of AI takes the stage, there is anticipation about the future direction and capabilities of Google's AI agent, suggesting ongoing development and innovation in this space.

Q & A

  • What is the major announcement made by Google at their annual developer conference?

    -Google announced the launch of AI Overviews and Search across the U.S., which is a new search experience that incorporates generative AI, moving away from the traditional ten blue links.

  • What was previously referred to as 'Search Generative Experience'?

    -The term 'Search Generative Experience' refers to the new AI-powered search feature that Google is introducing, which will change the way search results are presented to users.

  • How will the new AI search feature impact users in the U.S.?

    -The AI search feature will make search results look very different for everyone in the U.S. by the end of the week of the announcement, offering a more personalized and interactive search experience.

  • What is Gemini in the context of Google's announcements?

    -Gemini is Google's more pure form of a chat bot, which is essentially an answer machine. It has seen over a million people sign up to try it in the last three months.

  • How does the user adoption of Gemini compare to another popular chat bot, ChatGBT?

    -While Gemini has had a million sign-ups in three months, ChatGBT reached 100 million monthly active users within two months of its launch in 2022, indicating a faster growth rate for ChatGBT.

  • What is the concept of an 'AI Agent' as introduced by Google?

    -An AI Agent is an evolution beyond chat bots, capable of more complex tasks such as reasoning, memory, and engaging in back-and-forth conversations, providing a more interactive and personalized user experience.

  • What is the current status of Gemini in terms of its rollout to users?

    -Google is not rolling out Gemini to everyone because it currently does not include ads, which are a significant part of Google's business model. The company is likely still figuring out how to integrate advertising within the generative AI world.

  • What is the potential issue with the lack of ads in Gemini?

    -The lack of ads in Gemini raises questions about the sustainability of the service without a clear revenue stream. It's uncertain how Google will adapt its business model to accommodate this new form of AI-driven interaction.

  • How does the reporter suggest Google might monetize the AI Agent feature?

    -The reporter suggests that there might be a paid option for sponsored answers, but also raises concerns about how this could compromise the quality and integrity of the AI's responses.

  • What is the reporter's perspective on the shift from voice agents to AI agents?

    -The reporter sees the shift as a progression where users are moving from interacting with voice agents to more sophisticated AI agents that can provide richer, more reasoned responses.

  • What is the significance of Google's AI Overviews and Search launch for the future of search technology?

    -The launch signifies a major step in the evolution of search technology, where AI plays a central role in enhancing the search experience, making it more dynamic and personalized for individual users.

  • How does the reporter describe the current interaction with AI agents?

    -The reporter describes the interaction as one where users are not typing in queries but are likely engaging in more natural, conversational interactions with AI agents.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Google's AI Overviews and Search Launch

Google's CEO has announced the launch of AI Overviews and Search across the U.S. during the company's annual developer conference. This new feature, previously known as Search Generative Experience, aims to transform the traditional search results from a list of ten blue links to an AI-driven experience. The AI integration will provide a personalized search experience for each user in the U.S., with plans to expand to more countries later in the year. The announcement highlights Google's move towards a more interactive and dynamic search environment, leveraging generative AI to enhance user experience.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡AI Overviews

AI Overviews refers to the new feature that Google is introducing to its search engine. This feature is an enhancement to the traditional search methodology, integrating AI technology to provide a more comprehensive and interactive search experience. In the context of the video, AI Overviews is a significant announcement as it represents a shift from the standard ten blue links to a more dynamic and personalized search outcome for users in the U.S.

💡Search Generative Experience

Search Generative Experience is the previous term for what is now known as AI Overviews. It implies a search process that leverages generative AI to create and present information, offering a more engaging and tailored user experience. The concept is central to the video's theme as it highlights Google's innovation in search technology.

💡AI Agent

An AI Agent is a concept introduced in the video that signifies a more advanced form of AI technology. Unlike traditional chatbots, an AI Agent is capable of more complex tasks such as reasoning, learning, and engaging in back-and-forth conversations. This represents the evolution of AI in the context of search and user interaction, aiming to provide smarter and more personalized assistance.

💡Gemini

Gemini is mentioned as a more pure form of a chatbot, essentially an answer machine that has garnered significant interest with over a million people signing up to try it in the past three months. It is a key example in the video that illustrates Google's progress in the field of AI and its potential to compete with other established platforms like ChatGBT.

💡ChatGBT

ChatGBT is referenced in the video as a competitor to Google's Gemini. It is a platform that achieved 100 million monthly active users within two months of launch back in 2022. The mention of ChatGBT in the script provides a benchmark for gauging the success and adoption rate of Google's new AI-driven services.

💡Ads in Generative AI

The topic of advertisements within the context of generative AI is a point of discussion in the video. It raises questions about the business model and user experience when ads are integrated with AI-generated content. The reporter queries about the number of ads and the potential impact on the quality of the search experience, which is a significant consideration for Google as they roll out new AI features.

💡Voice Agents

Voice Agents are highlighted as a current trend in AI technology where users interact with systems using voice commands rather than typing. This shift towards voice interaction is part of the broader narrative of evolving user interfaces and the growing sophistication of AI in understanding and responding to human speech.

💡Monthly Active Users (MAU)

Monthly Active Users (MAU) is a metric used to measure the success and reach of a digital platform or service. In the script, it is used to compare the user base of Gemini and ChatGBT, indicating the rapid growth and adoption of these AI-driven platforms. MAU is a crucial statistic for understanding the scale of user engagement with these technologies.

💡Business Model

The business model in the context of the video pertains to how Google plans to monetize its AI-driven services, particularly with the introduction of AI Overviews and Gemini. The discussion around ads and user experience touches upon the challenges of maintaining a sustainable business model that aligns with the expectations of users and the quality of service provided.

💡Distribution and Scale Advantage

Google's distribution and scale advantage refers to the company's extensive reach and the vast number of users it can potentially serve with its new AI features. The video emphasizes how this advantage can play a critical role in the success of Google's AI initiatives, especially when compared to other platforms that may not have as broad a user base.

💡Traditional Search

Traditional search is the conventional method of online searching that typically results in a list of ten blue links. The video discusses how AI Overviews will transform this experience by incorporating AI to provide a more personalized and dynamic search outcome, marking a significant departure from the standard search process.

Highlights

Google announces the launch of AI Overviews and Search across the U.S. this week.

This new feature is previously known as Search Generative Experience.

AI Overviews will replace the traditional ten blue links with a more integrated AI experience.

The search experience will be significantly different for all users in the U.S. by the end of the week.

Google plans to roll out AI Overviews to more countries throughout the year.

Over a million people have signed up to try Gemini, Google's chat bot, in the last three months.

Gemini is a more pure form of a chat bot, designed as an answer machine.

Google's distribution and scale advantage is being leveraged in the race for generative AI in search.

Google is introducing the concept of an AI agent, moving beyond chat bots to more interactive and reasoning entities.

The head of AI at Google is set to reveal more about the AI agent's capabilities.

Google is addressing the user experience with AI Overviews, focusing on quality over the quantity of ads.

There is an open question regarding the business model for Gemini, which currently lacks ads.

Google is considering the strategy of keeping the ad model within the generative AI world.

The difference between a million users for Gemini and 100 million monthly active users for ChatGBT is significant.

Google's strategy is to win in the generative AI space by maintaining their ad model.

The future of sponsored answers and the quality of responses within Google's AI-driven search is a topic of discussion.

Google is exploring the shift from voice agents to more interactive AI experiences.