Google is set to launch its AI Overviews service in six additional countries, including India. This feature provides answers at the top of the search results page, eliminating the need to click on links.
The AI Overviews feature first garnered attention at Google I/O 2024. However, its initial rollout in some regions, including the US, did not meet expectations.
Users reported receiving odd or overly simplistic answers, a concern acknowledged by Google.
Now, with updates and improvements, the service is being introduced in five more countries alongside India. Here are the details.
What is AI Overviews?
After a year of testing an earlier version, Google launched AI Overviews in May for all US users.
This feature displays answers at the top of the search results page, above traditional website links. Users can now get accurate answers to their questions without needing to visit any websites.
Service Faces Controversy at Launch
Following the launch of the AI Overviews service, the feature faced significant criticism after screenshots of incorrect answers went viral.
Some of the errors included listing glue as an ingredient for pizza and incorrectly stating that former US President Barack Obama was Muslim.
In response, Google acknowledged these “strange and inaccurate overviews” in a late May blog post and announced changes to the product.
These updates included limiting the types of questions that would trigger AI responses and reducing reliance on user-generated information from sites like Reddit.
Hema Budaraju, Google’s senior director of product, stated, “I have enough evidence to say that the quality is only improving.”
She referenced Google’s internal data, which showed that users with access to the feature were more satisfied and engaged longer compared to those without it.
Service Launches in These Countries
The AI Overviews service will soon be available in local languages, including Hindi and Portuguese, across Brazil, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, and the United Kingdom.
Additionally, Google is introducing a hyperlinking feature, allowing websites to appear on the right side of the AI-generated responses.
Google is also internally testing an update that will include links in the same language as the AI Overviews.
The media sector has raised concerns about possible traffic loss for publishers’ websites.
However, Budaraju stated that the new update will offer “three-way benefits” for Google, users, and publishers.
