
Google to Introduce AI-Driven Conversational Answers in Search | Image Source: www.pymnts.com
MOUNTAIN ​VIEW, Calif., December 21, 2024 – Google is developing a new AI feature. called AI Mode for its research platform. According ​to a report from ​The Information, the feature will allow ​users to receive ​chat responses generated by a chatbot, similar to Google’s AI Gemini. This marks an important step ​in integrating conversational artificial intelligence ​capabilities directly into traditional search capabilities.
AI mode will be accessible through a dedicated tab with existing options such as All, Images, ​Videos and Shopping. In addition to providing answers to the conversation, the function will include ​links ​to external websites under your answers and a search bar for follow-up ​questions. ​A Google spokesperson stressed the ​potential of this progress, saying, “As our leading-edge models ​continue to advance, there is a great opportunity ​to bring these new capabilities to research, ​helping people discover even more ​about the web.”
Increased conversational AI in ​research
This Google ​movement comes in the middle of ​a broader trend in the ​technology ​sector, where companies are ​increasingly adopting AI-driven ​conversation interfaces. On December 18, Perplexity AI, a major artificial intelligence research firm, announced that it had raised $500 ​million in a round of ​funding, triple its valuation to $9 billion. As Perplexity Aravind Srinivas CEO said, the company currently manages more than 100 million consultations per week and aims to increase this figure to 100 million consultations per ​day. ​The rapid growth of the company highlights the growing demand for ​AI discussions in ​the area of research solutions.
Similarly, Reddit entered the AI conversation space. On December 9, the company began testing a feature called Reddit Answers, which ​takes advantage of AI to provide curated summaries ​of relevant conversations and recommendations from its platform. This interface ​also allows ​users to explore ​communities and related positions, while allowing them ​to ask follow-up questions to deepen their consultations. These initiatives highlight a ​collective push ​across the technology industry to clarify how users interact with search engines and online information platforms.
OpenAI and the competitive landscape
OpenAI ​has also made progress ​in the search for the AI. ​In July, the organization presented ​prototypes of AI search functions to a small group of users and publishers. These features aim to simplify the process of obtaining accurate and relevant information online. According to an OpenAI press release, “getting answers on the web can take a lot of effort, often requiring multiple ​attempts to obtain ​relevant results. We ​believe that by ​improving ​the conversation ​capabilities of our models with real-time web information, finding what you are looking ​for can be faster and easier. »
OpenAI plans to ​integrate the best aspects of its prototype into ​ChatGPT, strengthening competitive dynamics in the ​AI-led research sector. ​As Google and other players ​continue to innovate, the search landscape enhanced by AI is becoming increasingly competitive, with each company working to ​differentiate its offerings through unique features and user-centred designs.
Transformation of user search experience
The mode is ​aligned with a growing demand for tools that simplify the ​research experience by providing direct and conversive responses. ​Traditional research often requires users to ​sit through multiple sources to find accurate information. ​By integrating AI-induced ​conversation into its platform, Google seeks ​to minimize this effort, offering an intuitive and interactive alternative to standard search results.
In addition, the integration of links to external websites allows users to access detailed information ​while preserving the integrity of traditional search capabilities. This balance could help Google maintain its leadership in the search engine market while meeting user expectations in an increasingly AI driven digital landscape.
Challenges and opportunities
While adding the characteristics of conversational AI has a huge promise, it also presents challenges. It is essential to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the responses generated by AI, as poor information ​or biased ​content could compromise user confidence. Google’s decision ​to include external links and allow follow-up questions suggests a commitment to transparency and user participation, addressing possible concerns about the credibility of AI products.
At the same time, competitors such as Perplexity AI, Reddit and ​OpenAI promote their own conversational artificial intelligence initiatives, thereby fostering a dynamic innovation ecosystem. As ​these companies push the limits of ​what AI can do in research, users are likely ​to benefit from ​a richer and more interactive online experience.
In short, Google’s next AI mode is ready to ​revolutionize how users interact with search engines, offering conversational responses to traditional results. As technology evolves, it will be fascinating to see how ​Google and its competitors form the future of AI-based research.