Google's New AI Search Engine

Introduction

Google is in the process of rolling out its new generative AI search experience, currently open for beta testing. If you're keen to experiment with this feature yourself, you can visit labs.google.com and click on the "Get Started" button in the "Help shape the future of information" section.

Accessing Google’s AI Search

For those on a paid Google Workspace plan, now known as a business account, the generative AI search feature may not yet be available. However, if you have a free Google account, there’s a good chance you'll see the option to “try AI powered overviews” during searches.

After enabling this feature, you may find prompts to explore, such as “What are the chances of seeing a shooting star?” or “Tell me about Pier 57 in New York City.” Clicking on one of these prompts yields an instant answer—like the statistic that you have a 20% chance of seeing at least one shooting star in any 15-minute interval. Google’s AI allows for follow-up questions, offering a pathway to deeper exploration and citation of sources.

Experimenting with the AI Experience

To initiate a fresh interaction with Google’s generative AI, users can click on the reset button, which will bring them to a new page featuring example prompts alongside a chat box that allows for free-form queries. For example, when asked, “Who is Matt Wolf?” the AI displayed results and statistics about a golfer but didn’t specifically generate a direct response or clarify whom it was referencing.

When tasked with creating a basic HTML page or JavaScript side-scroller game, the AI could produce code, although it didn't provide detailed context or troubleshooting help when the initial execution didn’t meet expectations. Compared to AI models like ChatGPT or Bing, Google's assistance in coding tasks appeared less comprehensive.

Gathering Feedback from Community Testing

To better assess the AI's capabilities, feedback was sought from the Twitter community. Suggestions led to prompts including "Give step-by-step instructions to create an AI Larry Page clone," where the AI outlined steps, albeit highlighting the complexity involved in such a project. When querying about ambiguous topics, Google’s AI often provided only basic search results rather than coherent conversational responses, reinforcing the perception that it lacks depth compared to competitors.

Even in executing local searches like “best taco shop near me,” Google’s AI yielded responses that felt similar to standard search results, rather than offering any distinctive advantages.

Overall Impression and Future Development

Throughout the testing process, the general consensus leaned towards a conclusion that Google's generative AI is still developing and does not currently offer a robust advantage over existing tools like Bing or ChatGPT. While it excels in generating lists and basic instructions, it struggles with more complex or controversial queries, often redirecting to search results instead.

As Google continues to refine this feature, their history of research and innovation instills hope that enhancements will come. Currently, those looking for multifaceted AI interactions might benefit more from established platforms.

Conclusion

Despite the interesting features and potential that Google's new AI search engine brings, it appears that it has a way to go before it can compete effectively with already established AI chat functionalities.

Keywords

Google AI Search
Generative AI
Beta Testing
HTML Code
JavaScript
Local Searches
User Intent
Ambiguous Questions

FAQ

Q: How can I access Google's new AI search engine?
A: Visit labs.google.com and look for the "Get Started" button under the generative AI section.

Q: What types of queries can I make?
A: You can make a variety of queries, including prompts related to coding, local searches, and general knowledge.

Q: Is Google's AI search better than Bing or ChatGPT?
A: Currently, many users find that Bing and ChatGPT provide more in-depth responses and are overall more helpful for complex queries.

Q: Will I see ads in the AI search results?
A: While the AI-generated responses do not display ads, ads may appear in the traditional search results below that.

Q: Is the new feature available outside the US?
A: As of now, it seems the generative AI feature is primarily rolling out within the US, and availability outside may vary.