Google's search engine overhaul: AI push to offer quicker and more effective results

livemint.com:

Google's AI technology at the top of search results pages. These AI overviews will appear intermittently for users in the United States, with plans to expand to other regions in the future. The feature aims to provide quick and effective responses to complex queries or brainstorming sessions, supplementing traditional website links and ads for simpler searches.

Google has been testing AI overviews with a select group of users over the past year and is now rolling out the feature to a broader audience. By the end of the year, the company expects approximately one billion users to have access to these AI-generated summaries. In addition to enhancing its search engine, Google showcased advancements in other AI technologies at the conference.

These include Gemini, a technology unveiled five months ago, which enables more sophisticated analysis, and "Astra," a smart assistant capable of understanding and remembering information shown through a smartphone's camera lens. The decision to integrate more AI into its search engine represents one of the most significant changes for Google since its inception in the late 1990s. While it offers opportunities for growth and innovation, the move also poses challenges for website owners and could alter internet browsing habits.