Google has introduced a groundbreaking "AI Mode" that embeds its Gemini chatbot into its search engine, offering users a conversational experience akin to consulting an expert.
Launched in the U.S. on Tuesday as an option in the Google search bar, this feature was unveiled at the company’s annual I/O conference in Mountain View, California.
The move aims to counter competition from AI platforms such as OpenAI's ChatGPT, which pose a threat to Google's search dominance.
CEO Sundar Pichai called it a “pivotal shift in AI integration,” emphasizing Gemini’s ability to handle complex, multi-part queries with contextual follow-ups, transforming how users interact with information.
Did You Know?
Google’s Gemini AI, rebranded from Bard in 2024, now powers over 50 Android features, including live call transcription and app personalization.
AR Glasses and New AI Horizons
Google also announced Gemini-powered augmented reality (AR) glasses, a revival of its smart glasses ambition over a decade after the Google Glass failure.
Developed with Warby Parker and Gentle Monster, these glasses feature a camera, microphone, speakers, and an in-lens display for real-time tasks like navigation and translations.
Production is set to begin later this year, positioning Google against Meta’s AI-enhanced Ray-Ban glasses and Apple’s Vision Pro.
Additionally, Google teased a subscription AI tool and Project Moohan, a mixed-reality headset with Samsung, slated for 2025, signaling a bold expansion into AI-driven wearables.
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AI-Powered Search Innovations
The AI Mode, built on a specialized Gemini 2.0, integrates with Google’s search, Maps, and Lens, delivering precise, source-cited answers alongside traditional results.
For example, users can ask detailed questions like comparing smartwatch features and receive tailored responses that reduce the need to browse multiple sites.
Analyst Leo Gebbie of CCS Insight noted the feature streamlines user experience, but Cory Johnson of Epistrophy Capital Research warned that fewer clicks could impact Google’s ad revenue, which generated $237 billion in 2024, over 75% of Alphabet’s total.
This concern coincides with Google’s ongoing U.S. antitrust case over its search monopoly, which could force operational changes.
AI Overviews and Future Features
Google’s AI Overviews, introduced in 2024, now see 1.5 billion monthly uses across 200+ countries, driving over 10% query growth in markets like the U.S. and India, per Pichai. Despite early missteps like suggesting glue for pizza or eating rocks, the feature has matured.
Google is also developing “Search Live,” set for a summer 2025 launch, which uses phone cameras for real-time, AI-driven insights, such as identifying landmarks or translating signs.
These advancements highlight Google’s push to merge AI with real-world applications, though balancing innovation with ad revenue and legal challenges remains critical.
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