Google makes adjustments to AI Overviews after a rocky rollout
Google is making adjustments to its AI Overviews feature after a rocky initial rollout. The AI-driven search feature, which was introduced last month at Google's annual I/O developer conference, has been generating "odd and erroneous" responses to users' online searches.
When users search for information on specific topics using Google Search, an AI-generated text box appears at the top of the search results, accompanied by links to external websites. This marks a significant shift in how Google presents information, with traditional search results appearing below the AI Overviews.
The Technology Behind AI Overviews
According to Google VP Liz Reid, AI Overviews results are produced using the company's large language model (LLM), known as Gemini. These overviews are designed to provide users with a quick summary of a topic along with links for further exploration.
Google technology expert Alex Joseph explained that AI Overviews can handle more complex queries compared to traditional Google Search, offering users quick and concise answers without the need to sift through multiple search results.
Improvements to AI Overviews
In response to these issues, Google has implemented more than a dozen technical improvements to AI Overviews. These include limiting the inclusion of user-generated content, satirical websites, and enhancing quality protections for health-related content. Google aims to avoid displaying AI Overviews for hard news topics where accuracy and timeliness are crucial.
Despite the challenges, Google asserts that AI Overviews provide valuable information to users and drive traffic to external websites cited in the overviews. The company continues to refine the feature to ensure a balance between convenience and accuracy.
Future of AI Overviews
Google plans to introduce additional features similar to AI Overviews, addressing specific webpage or video-related queries. These developments come amidst increasing competition in the AI technology space, with Google striving to stay ahead in delivering relevant and reliable information to users.
While concerns persist about the impact of AI Overviews on traditional search results and revenue for websites, Google remains focused on providing valuable traffic to publishers and creators. The company emphasizes the importance of transparency and accuracy in AI-driven search features.
As Google continues to evolve its technology products, including AI Overviews, users can expect ongoing enhancements and refinements to improve the search experience and deliver accurate information.
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