Gemini

Google equips search engine with AI functions

Google boss Sundar Pichai

(Bild: AP ( via APA) Austria Presse Agentur/Jeff Chiu)

Google is enhancing its search engine and other services with artificial intelligence. AI-generated overviews of search results will soon be available to all users in the USA, with other countries to follow, announced CEO Sundar Pichai on Tuesday at the start of the Google I/O developer conference in Mountain View, California.

Functions of Google's AI model Gemini are available to two billion users. The new motto is "we do the Googling for you", said Liz Reid, the top manager responsible for Internet search. It is now possible to ask several questions in one search query. 

Business model in danger
Several artificial intelligence start-ups are trying to compete more strongly with Google in Internet search. They are focusing on providing users with concrete answers more quickly instead of web links. If this kind of search behavior becomes commonplace, it could jeopardize Google's current business model, as the company still generates the majority of its revenue from links from advertisers that are placed next to the search results.

So far, however, AI competitors such as Perplexity AI have not been able to seriously challenge the internet giant's dominance in this business. Meanwhile, Google itself has already introduced a function that allows users to search the internet by simply circling an object in a photo or words on their smartphone display.

New functions "in the foreseeable future" in Europe
Another example was that it should be enough to feed the search with a picture of a faulty record player for the AI software to find solutions. The new AI-supported search will initially be introduced in English in the USA. However, it is set to come to Europe "in the foreseeable future".

The previous day, ChatGPT developer OpenAI had set the bar high for Google's announcements. OpenAI presented a ChatGPT version that can converse fluently with people and also recognize their state of mind.

Google has been experimenting with AI software for years, but the ChatGPT chatbot overtook the internet giant's software when it entered the market.

Google first demonstrated a version of its AI called "Project Astra" in a video on Tuesday, which can be used to converse without delay and ask questions about objects it sees via the smartphone camera.