Google is making a significant leap in the field of search with the introduction of the Search Generative Experience (SGE) in the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region.
This innovative AI-powered experience will be available to users as an opt-in experiment in Search Labs and will initially be offered in English.
Google is leveraging groundbreaking generative AI technology to redefine the capabilities of its search engine.
The introduction of this powerful technology represents a major transformation in the way information is organized in Search, enabling users to efficiently sift through vast amounts of data and discover answers to complex questions that were previously difficult to tackle.
The SGE’s generative AI capabilities in Search will provide users with an AI-powered summary of key information, along with links to delve deeper into specific topics.
This enhancement is designed to assist users in navigating and extracting information more efficiently, particularly when they are confronted with a wealth of data on a particular subject.
For example, when a user enters a question like “Does Honey ever Spoil?”, the generative AI in Search can provide a comprehensive overview, followed by suggested next steps, such as a query like “What is the oldest honey ever eaten?”.
Users can also type specific follow-up questions, resulting in a more intuitive and conversational search experience.
Furthermore, context will be maintained from one question to the next, facilitating a seamless exploration of a topic.
In an effort to provide diverse perspectives and sources of information, Google’s new generative experiences in Search will emphasize and draw attention to web content, making it easy for users to delve deeper into the subjects they are interested in. Google is committed to continuing to direct valuable traffic to websites across the web, ensuring that a variety of sources are represented in search results.
As generative AI features are incorporated into Search, ads will continue to be an integral part of the web ecosystem, helping users find relevant products and services. Google is committed to maintaining the transparency of ads and ensuring they are distinguishable from organic search results. Ads in this generative experience will appear in designated ad slots throughout the page, featuring Google’s distinctive “Sponsored” label in bold black text.
Google is approaching the introduction of generative AI capabilities in Search with a sense of responsibility and careful consideration. The models employed in SGE have been trained to meet Search’s high standards for quality and will continue to improve over time. The technology is equipped with additional safeguards, including limitations on the types of queries where generative AI capabilities will be applied.
Wambui Kinya, General Manager for Search in Africa, stated, “With new generative AI capabilities in Search, we’re now taking more of the work out of searching. We’re imagining a supercharged Search that does the heavy lifting for you so you’ll be able to understand a topic faster, uncover new viewpoints and insights, and get things done more easily. This Search Generative Experience is the first step we’re taking in this journey, and part of our vision to make Search radically more helpful. We’re excited to bring this to the SSA region and look forward to receiving feedback and iterating on the experience alongside our users over the next few months.”
Users can access this innovative experience by participating in the experiment within Search Labs. Access will be available on Chrome desktop starting today and will be enabled on the latest version of the Google App for Android and iOS in the coming week. By opting in through the Labs icon in the Google app or Chrome desktop, users can explore the SGE and provide valuable feedback directly to the teams working on this transformative feature.
