Google, in a bid to enhance its core search engine, has revealed its plans to incorporate generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology. This move follows Microsoft’s integration of GPT-4 into its Bing search engine earlier this year. Known as the Search Generative Experience, this feature within Google will generate responses to open-ended queries, as stated by the company. However, it will initially be limited to a select number of users and is currently in an “experimental” phase.
Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google’s parent company Alphabet, expressed the company’s commitment to reimagining its core products, including search. This announcement came during Google’s annual developer conference, where leaders showcased the latest advancements in artificial intelligence and unveiled new hardware offerings. Among the notable reveals was a revolutionary phone priced at $1,799 (£1,425) that opens and closes like a book.
In addition to the AI developments, Google addressed the growing concern regarding privacy and personal tracking. The company announced that its Android system will feature a proactive warning system to alert users about unknown AirTags. These small devices, developed to track personal items such as keys and wallets, have raised concerns about potential misuse and stalking incidents. Google’s “unknown tracker alerts” will be launched this summer, following a collaborative effort with Apple to address the problem. It is worth noting that Apple faced legal action from two women who alleged stalking incidents involving AirTags.
Google’s commitment to AI was further highlighted by the removal of the waitlist for “Bard,” an experimental conversational chat service. This service, which will be available in English across 180 countries and territories, aims to enhance the user experience by responding to prompts with both text and images. By expanding its capabilities, Google aims to compete with Microsoft’s popular chatbot, ChatGPT, which has garnered significant attention and investment.
However, Google faced a setback earlier this year when its AI capabilities were called into question. In a promotional advertisement intended to showcase Bard’s capabilities, the chat service provided an incorrect answer. This incident resulted in a $100 billion (£82 billion) decrease in Alphabet’s share value, illustrating the high stakes and scrutiny surrounding the success of AI ventures undertaken by tech giants.
Despite this setback, Google remains a frontrunner in the AI industry, well-positioned to capitalize on the growing interest in AI technology. According to Chirag Dekate, an analyst at Gartner, Google possesses the necessary tools to dominate the AI landscape, but the question remains whether they will effectively do so.
