In a test, Google is using next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) to help consumers find products online. The pilot is currently underway in Search Labs, Google’s program where consumers can sign up to test new products and ideas the company is working on. Participants can try out some early-stage experiments and share their feedback directly with the teams working on them. The pilot is called SGE (Search Generative Experience) and is available on the Chrome desktop and the Google Android and iOS app in the US and in English only (at launch). Google plans to incorporate feedback from the pilot into its efforts to further improve the experience over time.
The generative AI is based on machine learning (ML) and can create new content and ideas, including conversations, narratives, images, videos and music. This means consumers can conduct online searches by asking conversational questions. The context is passed from question to question, allowing consumers to continue their search more naturally. Search results will also provide touchpoints for web content and different perspectives. For shopping-related searches, generative AI will provide a variety of factors to consider and relevant products. Results will also include product descriptions with up-to-date reviews, ratings, prices and product images.
The new generative AI shopping experience is built on Google’s Shopping Graph, a real-time AI-powered dataset of products, inventory and merchants with more than 35 billion entries. Every hour, more than 1.8 billion listings are updated on the Shopping Graph. Search ads will continue to appear in dedicated ad boxes on the results page. Google said it will continue to ensure that search ads are distinguishable from organic search results.
