Google has introduced an experimental version of its search engine that replaces the traditional 10 blue links with an AI-generated summary.
Exclusively available to Google One AI Premium subscribers, the new “AI Mode” feature can be accessed on the search results page by selecting a dedicated tab alongside existing options like Images and Maps.
“We’ve heard from power users that they want AI-generated responses for even more of their searches,” wrote Robby Stein, Google’s vice president of product, in a blog post.
The tech firm is staying the course on AI in search, revealing it is doubling down on AI Overviews with the rollout of the advanced Gemini 2.0 model and also an experimental AI Mode that provides deeper, more interactive search experiences.
Google integrates Gemini 2.0 into AI overviews and launches AI mode for complex searches
Since its launch, Google’s AI Overviews have become one of its most widely used search features, currently being used by over a billion users worldwide. AI Overviews offer AI-generated summaries that give people a response to more intricate and nuanced questions. Through constant developments, Google hopes to clean and build better on the feature to make it a more natural and useful one.
Now, Gemini 2.0, Google’s most recent AI model, has found its way into AI Overviews in the U.S., offering greatly enhanced search results, especially for complex query types like coding, advanced math, and multimodal inquiries.
This update allows for quicker and precise answers while increasing the instances of AI Overviews for complex searches. Google is also democratizing AI Overviews. In the past, you’d first have to be signed in to view AI-powered responses in search, but that is no longer the case. In addition, teenagers can now access AI Overviews, and therefore Google’s AI-enriched search outputs have been extended for them.
After the success of AI Overviews, Google is launching a new experiment in Labs: AI Mode. Aimed at power users, AI Mode expands Google’s AI-powered search capabilities to cover more complex reasoning, comparative analysis, and multi-step problem-solving. This capability enables users to ask detailed, multi-part questions and receive AI-driven answers that incorporate helpful web links and follow-up prompts.
AI Mode uses a version of Gemini 2.0 fine-tuned for the task, excelling in searches that demand deeper exploration, reasoning, and decision-making. Unlike traditional search, this mode can tackle very complex queries — such as comparisons between multiple products or analyses of very detailed concepts — by tapping into up-to-the-minute web data, Google’s Knowledge Graph, and expansive query-tweaking techniques.
For instance, users can now ask, “What’s the difference between sleep tracking features of a smart ring, smartwatch, and tracking mat?” AI Mode will analyze the particulars, run several concurrent searches, and summarize the results into a single cohesive response.
Google tests AI mode, transforming search with Deep AI reasoning
Google’s AI Mode is not simply about answering questions; it is about integrating the power of AI reasoning with the best-in-class information systems provided by Google.
What it does: The feature uses a technique known as “query fan-out,” which performs numerous related searches across different subtopics and sources and synthesizes them into an easily digestible answer. Users can refine their queries with follow-ups, searching for a more conversational, interactive experience.
Additionally, the AI Mode revolutionizes content discovery on the Internet. Users can specify their search needs more accurately and guarantee more relevant results. Coming updates will deliver richer formatting, visual elements like images and videos, and new ways to navigate web content quickly.
And this was back in 2020, well before giving the green light to some kind of testing. Google has been testing this AI Mode internally and with some trusted users, who say they have had positive experiences with the speed, quality, and relevance of their generated responses. Now, the company is doubling down, testing it further with a limited opt-in experiment via Google Labs — giving Google One AI Premium subscribers the first shot.
Google recognizes that search powered by AI is still fledgling and won’t always be flawless. Google is focused on making AI nonprofit and data-driven and acknowledges that, at times, the system may inadvertently return opinions and bias. The company is also working on additional visual responses and improvements to AI-generated responses when they lack important context—to ensure the output is more accurate, for example.
The combination of these new integration features is an attempt to further transform Google’s obstinate search pillar into something more AI-oriented and help users prefer a more answer-oriented Smart Search experience.
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