Google has put artificial intelligence at the front and center of its search bar. The most-visited site on the internet still shows the same list of links to users, but they have to scroll past a summarized response from an AI chatbot, a feature Google calls AI Overviews. The change to what was once the gateway to the rest of the internet has been profound, and the browsing habits of billions of people are shifting.
In May, the company said more AI is coming. As people grow accustomed to AI chatbots, they’re spending more time with Google’s and therefore more time on Google.com. Academic studies are finding that people navigate less to sites beyond Google if an AI Overview can give them a good enough answer, even if the bot cites the sites that feed it.
Clicks, also known as traffic, are often the most significant way a website earns money from advertising. Media outlets and website owners are enduring a sustained traffic decline. Large US media companies are suing Google, alleging that AI summaries have redirected and reduced traffic to their sites, cutting into their revenue.
Google said it had not seen a decline in aggregate traffic and that such accusations are based on “flawed methodologies”. Reid, the company’s vice-president of search, wrote last year: “Total organic click volume from Google Search to websites has been relatively stable year-over-year.” The Guardian asked readers whether Google has improved or worsened in the age of AI and how their habits of searching the internet have changed. Better, mainly because it leads you in your quest rather than you having to search on yourself.
I am happy to have the AI lead me to an answer but the mega caution is that Google AI or any of them are not at all trustworthy. I have had it admit that it was lying to me and apologise! Sionn Achog, retired teacher 76, Dublin I find that AI responses are more informative than previously, which simply referred the user to other relevant websites.
Peter Warb, 75, UK AI has made Google better. I use AI mode for all my searches. Jose Garcia Jr, 40, recovery coach, Dallas, Texas AI has improved Google search.
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