One of the tools for which Google is widely known worldwide is, without a doubt, Search. Going to Google to search for information or answers is almost a reflex action for many of us. In an effort to improve even further, the company introduced AI Overview during its 2024 Google I/O event. This is a search method that uses generative artificial intelligence to generate summaries and provide data. However, Google’s bet seems to not be going through its best moment.
AI Overviews became viral since its launch due to its strange responses, such as the famous recommendation to put glue on pizza, generated from a Reddit response. To solve this, Google started implementing new adjustments, such as adding better tools to detect nonsensical queries. They also chose to reduce humorous or satirical content, as it could lead to misleading responses.
However, new data from BrightEdge and Search Engine Land (SEO tools) indicate that the presence of AI Overviews in searches decreased from 11% to 7% from June 1st to June 30th. These are data that Google’s spokesperson disagrees with, and she has made it known to The Verge. She denounces that the results “do not reflect what we have seen [from Google]” and also criticizes the methodology used to conduct the studies, as it mixes users who use AI Overviews with others who do not. Nevertheless, it is still true that these systems can also generate inaccurate information (known as “hallucinations”), which would discourage their use.
AI Overviews is a great opportunity for Google to leverage artificial intelligence and improve Search. Otherwise, users would have other options whose good performance has already been more than demonstrated, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Although Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, stated that the public is “responding very positively to AI Overview,” there is still a long way to go.
