Google Embeds AI Chatbot in Search, Unveils New Tools Amid AI Push

Google has officially launched a new “AI Mode” in its search engine, allowing users in the U.S. to interact with its Gemini chatbot directly from the search bar. The update, announced Tuesday at the company’s annual developers conference in Mountain View, California, is part of a broader strategy to compete with rivals like ChatGPT and maintain its dominance in online search.

The new feature transforms search into an expert-like conversation, enabling users to ask more complex and nuanced questions. “With more advanced reasoning, you can ask AI both longer and more complex queries,” said Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google’s parent company, Alphabet. He called the shift a “new phase of the AI platform shift.”

The company also revealed plans to develop new augmented reality (AR) glasses, reviving efforts after the failed Google Glass project over a decade ago. The updated glasses, created in collaboration with Warby Parker and Gentle Monster, will include a camera, microphone, and speakers, aimed at competing with Meta’s AI-powered Ray-Ban glasses. Production is expected to begin later this year.

In addition, Google is rolling out a subscription-based AI tool, expanding its monetisation of advanced AI services.

Leo Gebbie, principal analyst at CCS Insight, said the new chatbot integration could simplify users' search experience by reducing the need to scroll through multiple webpages. “This should mean less time browsing the web and more time interacting with Google's AI tools,” he explained.

However, the integration of AI may come at a cost to Google's traditional business model. “Google is getting more efficient at answering questions, but less efficient at generating clicks – and clicks are how they get paid,” noted Cory Johnson, chief market strategist at Epistrophy Capital Research.

The new announcements come as Google faces legal pressure in the U.S. over its alleged search monopoly, with potential implications for its business operations.

Google’s previous attempts to embed AI, like the AI Overviews feature, have met mixed reviews. Launched last year, the tool provides AI-generated summaries at the top of search results. Some early outputs went viral for the wrong reasons, such as suggesting people eat rocks or use glue to stick cheese to pizza. Google described these as "isolated examples."

Despite the rocky start, Pichai stated that AI Overviews now serve 1.5 billion users monthly across more than 200 countries and territories. In key markets like the U.S. and India, the tool is driving over 10% growth in relevant query types. “It’s one of the most successful launches in search in the past decade,” Pichai said.

Source: BBC