Google has announced the launch of Search Generative Experience (SGE), an experimental version of its search engine that incorporates artificial intelligence (AI) answers directly into search results. In a blog post on Thursday, the company revealed that SGE leverages AI technology to provide users with novel answers to their queries, eliminating the need to click on blue links and navigate external websites.
How does It work?
When users enter a search query on Google, Search Generative Experience generates a unique response within a green or blue box on the search page itself. This feature is made possible by Google’s large language model, which is comparable to OpenAI’s ChatGPT. The answers provided by SGE are derived from information gathered from websites and sources that were used to generate the answer. Users can also ask follow-up questions within SGE to obtain more specific results.
Currently, Search Generative Experience is not publicly accessible and requires users to sign up for Google’s Search Labs. Although the service is currently limited to a select number of individuals in the United States and only available in English, interested users can join the waitlist. Google has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the new feature.
Surge In AI Chatbots
In recent months, there has been a growing trend among companies to incorporate generative AI capabilities into their products. Google’s release of Search Generative Experience, an AI chatbot capable of providing unique answers to a wide range of questions, has spurred this development. Earlier this year, Google introduced Bard, a chatbot similar to ChatGPT. Microsoft also followed suit by integrating ChatGPT into Bing, including an AI image generator powered by Dall-E, another OpenAI technology. These AI chatbots rely on large language models that use extensive text data to generate human-like sentences, often described as “autocomplete on steroids.”
During Google I/O, the company’s annual developers conference, AI was a focal point, with the term being mentioned over 140 times throughout the event. Cathy Edwards, Google’s Vice President of Engineering, emphasized the limitations of traditional search, where users must break down complex queries, search multiple websites, and piece together the information themselves. SGE aims to alleviate this burden by allowing AI to perform these tasks on behalf of the user.
How To Access
SGE, which is part of Google’s Search Labs, offers experimental features such as Code Tips, which provides coding suggestions directly in search results, and Add to Sheets, which automatically imports search findings into Google Sheets.
To access SGE, users must agree to Google’s privacy notice and refrain from sharing sensitive or confidential personal information that could identify themselves or others during interactions with SGE. While human reviewers may analyze some data during the trial period, this data will not be associated with users’ Google accounts. Interactions can be deleted through the My Activity page.
Generative AI Limitations
Google acknowledges the limitations of generative AI, warning that accuracy may vary. The company cautions against relying on generative AI for critical areas such as medical, legal, financial, or other professional services, due to the possibility of inaccuracies. This warning is likely in response to the issue of “hallucinations” observed in generative AI, where the system confidently produces incorrect information.
Source: CNET
