Google announces major AI improvements for Search – you can’t avoid artificial intelligence anymore
Google just announced massive AI updates to Search and Lens, which will catapult everyone into an artificially intelligent future, whether you like it or not.
Google Search is now organized by AI so you can get the results you want faster. The company announced that the rollout will begin in the US, starting with recipes and meal inspiration on mobile devices such as the top iPhone.
Google also announced a new design for AI Overviews that brings links to the summary and makes it easier for users to access the websites they are looking for. Not only do you now have links in AI overviews, but Google is also including ads in AI search results and Lens. This means you get recommendations for products related to your prompts, not just summaries and links to useful web pages.
Lens’ major AI updates include a new Voice Search and Video Search, giving you even more ways to use Google’s eyes in your online searches. Google says you can upload videos directly to Lens and ask AI about moving objects.
Google’s example is a trip to the aquarium where you upload a video of the fish in an aquarium and ask: “Why do they swim together?” Lens can then create an AI overview with all the information you need.
Voice search works similarly, allowing you to talk to Lens in a manner similar to ChatGPT and Gemini Live’s advanced voice mode. New ways to interact with Lens aren’t the only AI updates coming to the platform, however.
Google is adding a major store update that lets you take photos of products in the wild and quickly get a new results page with important information about the product and which stores you can buy it from. All of these updates to Google Lens are now available worldwide in the Google app for Android and iOS.
Circle to find everyone
Last but not least, Android fans have a new way to interact with Google Search with the arrival of Circle to Search on “more than 150 million Android devices.” Not only will Circle to Search be accessible to more users, but Google announced that Circle to Search can now identify songs in movies and other audio heard while browsing the web. Listen to a song you like in a YouTube video. Just circle the video and look for the song title.
Google’s most important AI updates
Google’s announcements today herald a new era for Google Search and Lens, highlighting that users will simply have to come to terms with the AI revolution. With better AI optimization in search results and new ways to search using video or voice, it’s clear that Google sees AI as a pillar in the company’s search engine future.
AI has been slowly implemented into our regular search results and with continued optimizations like the addition of links in today’s updates, it’s only a matter of time before you have no choice but to use an artificially intelligent search engine.