Google Launches Conversational Search with Audio Summaries
New Feature Uses AI to Provide Spoken Overviews of Search Results
Google has begun integrating spoken summaries into its search results, allowing users to interact with search queries conversationally. This new feature utilizes generative artificial intelligence to offer a hands-free way to digest information.
Audio Overviews Debut
The tech giant has launched “Audio Overviews,” leveraging its Gemini AI models. These models promptly condense query results into a conversational style, according to Google. The company stated, “An audio overview can help you get a lay of the land, offering a convenient, hands-free way to absorb information whether you’re multitasking or simply prefer an audio experience.”
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“We display helpful web pages right within the audio player on the search results page so you can easily dive in and learn more.”
—Google, Blog Post
The shift towards generative AI in search comes as the global search engine market is expected to reach $31.75 billion by 2029 (Fortune Business Insights 2024).
Expanding AI Capabilities
Google is actively enhancing its online search functionality with generative artificial intelligence. This move highlights the firm’s embrace of AI, despite worries concerning its ad-based financial model. CEO Sundar Pichai recently presented a new AI mode within Google search.
The new AI mode surpasses the functionality of AI Overviews. These overviews already present answers to queries, pulled from the company’s generative AI, positioned above conventional website links and advertisements. More than 1.5 billion users across several countries have adopted AI Overviews since their introduction a little over a year ago, as indicated by Pichai.
Competition with Rivals
Google’s investment in generative AI occurs amidst escalating competition with OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which has integrated search engine features into its chatbot. This ongoing competition fuels innovation within the tech industry.
