Google, the leading tech giant in online search, might be on the brink of a significant transformation in its business strategy.
Recent reports suggest that the company is exploring the possibility of introducing premium, AI-driven functionalities within its core search product, for which users may have to pay.
Integration of Advanced AI Features
As first reported by The Financial Times, sources familiar with Google's plans indicate that these advanced AI-driven search capabilities could potentially be integrated into existing subscription services like Gemini Advanced or Google One. However, it's worth noting that even the premium tier of Google Search would likely still display ads, while the basic version would remain freely accessible.
Balancing Innovation and Revenue
This potential shift reflects Google's efforts to strike a balance between incorporating cutting-edge AI technologies into its search platform and preserving the substantial revenue generated through search advertising, which remains a cornerstone of its financial success.
With search-related ad revenue reaching a staggering $175 billion last year, Google faces immense pressure to innovate while safeguarding its primary revenue stream, especially in the face of competition from emerging AI technologies like OpenAI's ChatGPT.
Testing AI-Powered Search
Google initiated testing of its AI-driven search service, known as the Search Generative Experience (SGE), in May of the previous year. SGE offers AI-generated summaries and responses to search queries, alongside the traditional search results and advertisements.
While initially opt-in, Google has recently begun testing SGE as the default experience for a select group of users. However, the integration of these AI features into the main search engine has been gradual, likely due to the significant computational resources required by generative AI models.
Challenges to the Current Business Model
While the introduction of AI-driven features holds promise for enhancing user experience, it also poses challenges to Google's existing business model. The comprehensive nature of AI-generated responses may reduce user clicks on website links, potentially leading to a decline in ad impressions and threatening Google's core revenue stream.
Although Google's engineers are reportedly actively developing this technology, a definitive decision and timeline for its launch remain uncertain. The question remains: Will users be willing to pay for an enhanced Google Search experience?
Last year, Google Search introduced a better approach in solving math and science problems. As per Tech Times, it's now easier to get an answer from the search engine through the "math solver" feature. You can access it by typing the word on the Search bar.
According to Google, taking a picture of the math problem whether it's an equation or any mathematical formula will give you a systematic explanation and solution.
In early 2023, the generative AI search for teens was launched. This was intended for users aged 13 to 17 years old.
