Recently, Google introduced a new feature in its search capabilities – AI-generated search summaries, which are now being rolled out in six countries. This feature not only provides users with information but also changes how citation sources are displayed. Previously, links to relevant web pages would appear directly within the AI-generated summaries, but now Google has placed these links more prominently to the right of the summaries, making it easier for users to quickly find content they are interested in.
According to Hema Budaraju, Senior Director of Product Management for Google Search, the new display method aims to enhance the user navigation experience. When searching on mobile devices, users can easily view the cited web links by tapping the icon in the top right corner of the summary. Google is also experimenting with a new feature that allows users to directly click on related text links within the AI summary to quickly access relevant websites.
In addition to these changes, Google has added a save feature within the AI-generated summaries. Users can save their summaries for future reference, which will be stored in their interest pages. Furthermore, Google has introduced a button to simplify summaries, allowing users to streamline some complex AI-generated content.
After launching in the United States, AI-generated search summaries are now available in the UK, India, Japan, Indonesia, Mexico, and Brazil, supporting local languages in each country. However, AI Overviews faced some challenges in the US, including inappropriate suggestions such as advising users to spread glue on pizza to make the cheese stickier. Google has made adjustments and manually removed some unsuitable responses.
When asked about preventing similar issues in other countries and languages, Budaraju stated that Google has strict evaluation processes and extensive adversarial testing in each market to ensure the quality and safety of AI Overviews. He emphasized that Google is committed to learning from and listening to user feedback to continuously improve this feature.
Key Points:
🌍 AI-generated search summaries launched in six countries, changing the display of citation sources.
🔗 Improved link display makes it easier for users to find interesting content.
💾 Users can save AI summaries for future reference and use a simplification feature.