In a major development of search technology, Google has announced that it is trialling the use of artificial intelligence to generate direct answers within its search results in the UK. This follows a similar pilot program in the US last year. The tech giant promises robust safeguards and human oversight as it looks to make information more accessible through AI-powered search.
In a significant development for the future of search engines, Google has announced that it is trialling the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to generate search result answers in the United Kingdom. This comes after a similar pilot program was launched in the United States last year.
The new feature allows Google’s search engine to provide direct answers to certain queries, drawing upon a vast database of information processed and structured by AI models. Rather than simply surfacing a list of web pages, the search results will now include concise, AI-written snippets that aim to address the user’s question or need directly.
“This is an exciting step forward for Google Search,” said a company spokesperson. “Our goal is to make information more accessible and useful than ever before. By leveraging the power of AI, we can deliver high-quality answers to users in a much more streamlined way.”
During the initial testing phase in the UK, the AI-generated answers will be limited to a relatively narrow set of common queries, such as basic facts, definitions, and unit conversions. However, Google plans to gradually expand the scope and capabilities of the feature over time.
Importantly, the tech giant has stressed that human oversight and quality control will remain crucial parts of the process. “We have robust safeguards in place to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the AI-written content,” the spokesperson explained. Our teams of subject matter experts carefully review and validate each answer before it is shown to users.”
The move comes as Google and other major tech companies race to integrate advanced language models and other AI technologies into their core products and services. With the rapid progress in this field, many industry observers believe AI-powered search is just the tip of the iceberg.
“This is a significant milestone, but it’s also just the beginning,” said industry analyst Jane Doe. “As AI continues to become more sophisticated, we’re likely to see it play an increasingly central role in how we access information and make decisions online.”
For now, UK users may notice the new AI-generated answers appearing in their Google search results. The company has promised to monitor user feedback closely and make adjustments as needed during this trial phase.