Google announced that it is rolling out a new generative AI search experience to its core search engine. This new feature will allow users to ask open-ended questions and receive responses in natural language. The company also announced a new feature on its Android system that will warn users about unknown AirTags, which are small tracking devices that can be used to track personal items. These announcements were made at Google’s annual developer conference, where the company also showcased new hardware offerings, including a foldable phone.
Google has been under pressure to improve its AI offerings, as rival chatbot ChatGPT, which is funded by Microsoft, has been very successful. In February, Google embarrassed itself when Bard, its experimental chatbot, answered a question incorrectly in an ad. This incident wiped $100 billion off the company’s share value.
Microsoft is deploying ChatGPT technology into its search engine Bing, after investing heavily in the company that developed it, OpenAI. Chinese tech giant Baidu also has a chatbot, called Ernie.
Chirag Dekate, analyst at Gartner, said that Google remains an industry leader in AI and is well-positioned to benefit from the growing interest in the technology. However, he noted that the company still needs to prove that it can execute on its AI ambitions.
