MILLIONS of Brits now have access to a supercharged version of Google called AI Mode.
A new button is now appearing on UK phones and computers that makes Google more “powerful” than ever – and insiders told The Sun it could save you time, money and even bag you bargain holidays.
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AI Mode is powered by Google’s brainy bots and launched in the US earlier in the year. Now the new version of Google has made it to the UK, and will appear for all Brits by the end of the week.
It lets you make “previously impossible” searches, like complicated questions about planning your big summer holiday.
You could set exact budgets, explain what each family member likes, the types of places you’d like to visit, and even ask for a full itinerary.
But there are concerns over what it means for the rest of the internet, and whether regular web users will end up visiting websites or will simply stay on Google.
Google’s Hema Budaraju said AI Mode searches are typically two to three times longer than a regular question, and explained: “It breaks it down into the different component questions, then sends off like dozens, sometimes hundreds of searches.
“We’re able to bring back a much deeper, more diverse set of results that previously was just not possible.”
AI AM READY
Hema is the Google exec tasked with upgrading your search bar using AI.
She showed The Sun several demos of AI Mode working in real-time.
One example question included: “Weekend family getaway destinations that can entertain a very hard-to-please teenager who likes wildlife photography, with nice hikes nearby, and is close to a spa so I don’t lose my mind.”
That sort of search would normally take multiple different questions, but AI Mode can pull all of the info and links you need into a single answer.
“In our testing, we’ve seen that the query length on AI Mode is almost two to three times that on regular search,” Hema told The Sun at Google’s London HQ.
“It’s like an indication of people’s change in behaviour. The willingness to use the technology in different ways, and finding things that previously were probably much harder to find.”
The AI Mode is also meant to work like a chatbot – like Google Gemini or ChatGPT – with the option to ask even more questions.
So if you’re not happy with the results or if you want to know something else, you can go back to any AI Mode search and ask more.
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“You should be able to retrieve this particular response,” Hema explained.
“And if you wanted to ask follow-up questions on the basis of that, you can pick this up and then do your next step of information-seeking questions on the basis of that.”
Hema also said that her own family used AI Mode to plan a trip.
“So my daughter just finished college and has been doing travelling with a friend,” the Google exec told us.
“And she just did the Portugal to Spain trek.
“And we were actually using AI Mode in the US when she was home to help her plan her trip.
“To say: How do you pace yourself? What are some good places to stay? What are budget places to look for? How should you think about food?
“So it was really, really magical.”
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WHAT IS AI MODE ACTUALLY FOR?
Here’s the official word from Google, including tips on how to search well…
“AI Mode is particularly helpful for exploratory questions and for more complicated tasks,” Google explained.
“Like comparing products, planning a trip or understanding complex how-tos.
“In fact, we’ve found that early users of AI Mode are asking questions that are two or three times the length of traditional search queries.
“For example, you can now ask questions like: ‘Things to do in Edinburgh this weekend with friends. We’re big foodies who like music but also chill vibes and exploring off the beaten track.’
“Or: ‘How do migrating birds know where to go?’
“Behind the scenes, AI Mode uses our query fan-out technique, breaking down your question into subtopics and issuing a multitude of queries simultaneously on your behalf.
“This enables Search to dive deeper into the web than a traditional search on Google, helping you discover even more of what the web has to offer and find incredible, hyper-relevant content that matches your question.”
Picture Credit: Google
TEXT BEST THING?
AI Mode isn’t just for typing in text, either.
Google is bundling in its Lens tech, which scans snaps that you upload to tell you about them. The Sun recently used it as a “dupe-hunter” to find thousands of pounds in savings.
The tech giant said that this could be used as a way to make online shopping much easier.
“In AI Mode, you can take a picture, upload an image, and ask a question – and get a rich, comprehensive response with links to dive deeper,” Hema told us.
“AI Mode can understand the entire scene and image, including the content and the context of how objects relate to each other.
“So in the particular case, where you have a bookshelf and say ‘hey, find me recommendations of books like that’, it’s able to understand the context of the entire image.”
She said it would “come back with recommendations and places where you can have access to those specific books”.
“And then if you have additional follow-up questions to build on, you can do that right there.”
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The Sun also saw a demo where Google insiders asked AI Mode about how to get into birdwatching.
It served up info on what gear you’ll need, the best places nearby to spot birds laid out on a map, and general advice.
The complicated question was answered in a matter of seconds, and linked out to multiple websites.
One notable absence from the demos seen by The Sun was video results.
Asked about video in AI Mode, Hema said: “We will continue to add new features.
“I think at this point, you’re likely to see more links and ways to get there – but we’ll continue to look at feedback and add features.”
CHAT’S GOOD?
She said that the main purpose behind AI Mode is to allow for more complicated questions that wouldn’t normally be possible.
“If you ask more nuanced questions, add more parameters, add a ton of constraints, you’ll be able to ask anything on your mind and get a helpful AI-powered response,” Hema said.
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So is this the end for regular Google search? Hema explained that there’s still a place for more conventional snippets of info and lists of links.
She said: “I think it depends on the use case, doesn’t it?
“So when you actually think of it on a daily basis with billions of search queries – and sometimes these are simpler ones like weather, sports scores, train schedules – just a link to a site that you wanted to go to, search is awesome at it.
“And I think that you would be able to find what was the fastest way that you need to get the information.
“And we think of AI Mode as more complex. The harder questions, the difficult questions that you otherwise probably wouldn’t have had a chance to figure out formerly.
“So I think it depends on the use case. You could choose whichever format that you prefer to engage with search.”
Hema also revealed that AI Mode isn’t meant to replace Google’s chatbot Gemini.
The ChatGPT-style both is available on phones and computers, and lets you ask almost anything in a conversational style – including with your voice in real-time. The Sun even tried using it as a free tour guide for holidays.
A GOOG IDEA? The expert view
Brits finally have access to AI Mode, but what does The Sun’s tech editor Sean Keach think?
It’s hard to imagine a time before Google. I use it, unthinkingly, dozens of times a day. Maybe more than that.
And I suspect most of you are exactly the same.
So when Google makes a big change, it affects billions of people.
And AI Mode is a seriously big change.
I’ve had an early look at it in Google’s HQ and it’s undoubtedly impressive.
It serves up rapid-fire responses to very complicated questions, answering them from every angle and serving up loads of very appropriate links, map pins, and suggestions.
It doesn’t take a genius to see how this could make planning a day out or a holiday much easier.
There are clearly loads of ways this will save you time, not least because you don’t have to make 15 different searches. One, plus a follow-up question, might do.
The real question will be around how it affects all of us.
This is Google serving up content, which means it might make mistakes. If those mistakes relate to health or finances, it could be very serious. We’ll have to watch it closely.
And secondly, anyone making content will rightly be worried that people might not need to visit their websites if the content shows up on Google first.
Google seems certain that this won’t be the case, and that Brits will be shown more appropriate links than ever before.
But again, only time will tell.
In the meantime, I’m off to see if AI Mode can book me a cheap summer hol. Croatia, here I come.
Picture Credit: Sean Keach
Google says that AI Mode won’t kill off Gemini. They’ll both exist together.
“The role of AI mode is primarily information-seeking journeys,” Hema said.
“And information-seeking journeys that are built on the power of the goodness of knowledge graph, maps, shopping, places.
“That’s why you see the presence of these links very strongly.
“The Gemini app is more like your most personal, capable assistant, where you do maybe things that help your creativity and productivity tasks.”
GOOG LINKING
Google has faced questions over whether AI will make it harder for people who create content, like journalists, writers, and researchers.
The Sun asked Hema if the end-goal was to keep everyone on Google’s own systems – rather than heading off to different websites.
Hema said that Google’s AI Mode would still give plenty of opportunity for users to end up on other pages.
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“I would think of it in two ways. One is, it’s expansionary. People are not asking some of these questions today on search,” Hema said.
“But with the capabilities and with the technology, the ability to ask these questions now opens up to everyone.
“Which means that there are newer questions and newer opportunities for traffic and for content to be discovered.
“Secondly, we are very committed to ensuring that there are strong links to figure out the right jump-off points and make it easy.”
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She said the existing AI Overviews feature, which summarises content to provide speedy answers to your questions on Google, is a great example of that.
“We send billions of clicks and with AI Overviews, one of our learnings is that when people go from AI Overviews to the content, they tend to spend more time there, which is a good sign that it’s a good thing,” the Google exec added.
IT’S AI TIME
If you want to try Google’s AI Mode, it’s available in the UK right now.
You’ll see a new AI Mode button on the right side of the search bar, which you can tap for brainier results.
And if you make a search and – in hindsight – wished you’d used AI for it, you can tap the AI Mode button at the top of the screen to convert your request instantly.
If you can’t see AI Mode right away, don’t panic: it’ll take a few days for the feature to reach all Brits.
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