A new neighbor to Google’s iconic search button is AI Mode.
Directly beneath the Google search bar, next to a “Google Search” button, the artificial intelligence function is being tried in place of the “I’m Feeling Lucky” widget. The new function is being tested in a place where Google seldom makes updates, although it is not yet generally accessible.
According to a corporate representative, the capability started to be made available to some users a week ago.
According to the spokesperson, Google conducts numerous experiments with its users through “Labs,” its experimental division that evaluates new features for people who choose to participate. They also mentioned that tested products don’t usually launch widely.
As it continues to face pressure to compete in generative AI-driven search, the most recent feature test indicates that Google is thinking about leveraging its most valuable real estate to introduce its AI technology to users.
Alphabet investors have been concerned since ChatGPT’s November 2022 launch that OpenAI would overtake Google in search by providing users with more online information-seeking options.
OpenAI took a step further in October and introduced “ChatGPT search,” putting the business in a stronger position to take on search engines like Google, Microsoft’s Bing, and Perplexity. Microsoft has spent about $14 billion on OpenAI, yet OpenAI’s technologies directly compete with Microsoft’s search and AI tools, like Bing and Copilot.
Even though Gemini, the company’s flagship AI product, has performed on par with or better than its main rivals, it has been working to increase its user base in order to compete with ChatGPT.
During an antitrust court hearing in April, a recent Google research disclosed that the company’s Gemini AI product has 35 million daily active users. The report said it was in contrast to ChatGPT’s projected 160 million daily active users.
In 2023, the Alphabet-owned business reportedly started internally exploring home page ideas. According to one possible design at the time, the existing “I’m feeling lucky” bar would be replaced with five distinct prompts for possible inquiries underneath the main search bar on the home search page. A little chat logo that was placed inside the search bar’s far right end was also tested.
Google stated in March that it will be testing “AI Mode” for a limited number of people; however, the description indicated that the widget would be tested on Google’s results page rather than its home page. As an early trial in labs to do “more advanced reasoning, thinking and multimodal capabilities so you can get help with even your toughest questions,” the business stated in its March statement.
In order to invest in AI businesses, the corporation this week introduced the “AI Futures Fund.” Early access to the company’s AI models would be granted to qualified entrepreneurs.