Google unveiled a redesigned version of its flagship search product at I/O, showcasing an AI-driven experience that aims to simplify the search process.
"We want Google to do the Googling for you," said the head of search, highlighting the potential impact on business models reliant on SEO.
The revamped Search includes AI enhancements, promising features such as finding local yoga studios with deals, suggesting meal plans, and diagnosing device issues based on user videos.
This marks a significant shift for Google as it aims to lead in the AI race among tech companies.
The new search functionality resembles a chatbot, offering AI-generated answers conversationally. Initially launching in the US, the AI Overviews feature uses "multi-step reasoning" to provide comprehensive answers to complex queries in a single search.
Google's shift not only affects its future but also has broad implications for the internet. Much of the internet's architecture is built around SEO and driving traffic through search engines. Google's move towards a more conversational search experience could alter how traffic is distributed.
Google assures that these changes will benefit publishers and creators. According to Liz Reid, links included in AI Overviews receive more clicks than traditional web listings for the same query, ensuring valuable traffic is still directed to publishers.
Google's latest advancements come amidst heightened competition from OpenAI, which recently unveiled GPT-4o, its next flagship AI model with improved voice and vision capabilities.