Google to Introduce AI Mode in Search Engine

Investing.com — Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) is planning to introduce an AI Mode to its search engine, which may rival existing AI chatbots, according to a report from The Information, citing sources. The new feature will resemble Google's own Gemini AI chatbot, currently operating separately from the search engine. This development is expected to significantly increase Gemini's user base.

The introduction of AI Mode illustrates Google's efforts to adapt its primary revenue source amid transformative chatbot services like ChatGPT and Perplexity. These services are changing how people find information, from shopping and travel suggestions to writing tips and recipe searches. Android Authority has previously reported on the planned addition of AI Mode to Google's search engine.

Software (ETR:SOWGn) code integrated into Google's search app implies that AI Mode could enable users to interact with Google Search on their Android devices, similar to how they can communicate with Google Gemini or ChatGPT. Android Authority found similar code in Google’s Android app.

A spokesperson from Google stated that as their advanced models continue to improve, there is a significant opportunity to incorporate these new capabilities into Search, helping people discover even more of the web.

However, the introduction of AI Mode is not without risks. Google is anticipating penalties from a federal judge after being ruled as an illegal monopoly. The Department of Justice may seek to restrict Google's ability to leverage its search engine to outperform AI chatbot competitors, potentially hindering the implementation of features like AI Mode.

Google could argue that its search engine has always been AI-powered, suggesting that the new changes are not substantial.

Users will be able to switch to AI Mode by clicking a tab at the top of a results page, located to the left of other longstanding tabs such as All, Images, Videos, and Shopping.

Since the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022, Google has felt the pressure to innovate or launch new products to counter the threat posed by AI chatbots. In response, Google launched Bard in March 2023, which was later renamed to Gemini and launched separately from search. In February, Google started promoting the Gemini chatbot in its mobile app. In May, it launched AI Overviews, a feature initially criticized for producing inaccurate results that quickly spread on social media, leading Google to scale it back.

While ChatGPT hasn't seemingly affected Google Search's ad revenue, Google executives are preparing for such a possibility, particularly as OpenAI continues to promote its web-search capabilities. ChatGPT claims over 300 million weekly users. Google hasn’t disclosed the number of Gemini chatbot users, but data from firms tracking chatbot usage show that ChatGPT significantly outpaces its competitors. For example, Similarweb (NYSE:SMWB) reported that ChatGPT had nearly 14 times more visitors than Gemini in November.

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