Google has launched the Generative Search Experiment, or SGE, a beta version of search that embeds AI answers directly into results, the company said in a blog post Thursday.
Unlike regular Google Search, which displays a list of blue links, SGE uses artificial intelligence to answer your questions directly on the Google Search webpage. After you enter a query into Google Search, a green or blue box will expand with a new answer generated by Google’s large language model, such as the one that powers OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
Google pulls this information from the websites and links to the resources used when creating an answer. It is also possible to ask follow-up questions in the SGE to obtain more accurate results.
At this time, SGE is not open to the public and requires you to register with Google Search Labs. To join, click the link here. Research Labs is currently only available to a limited number of people in the US and only in English, although you can join a waitlist. Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
With the launch late last year of ChatGPT, an AI chatbot that can answer almost any question with a unique answer, companies are adding generative AI features to their products amid growing public interest. Google unveiled Bard earlier this year, an AI chatbot similar to ChatGPT. Microsoft followed this up by adding ChatGPT directly to Bing, including an AI image generator powered by Dall-E, and also by OpenAI. AI chatbots are powered by a large language model, or LLM, a technology that uses a huge set of textual data to write sentences that mimic human language. The model mainly aims to find out what the next best word should be when constructing sentences, a process that has been described as “Autocomplete on steroids. “
Artificial intelligence was also a primary focus earlier this month Google I/O, the search giant’s annual developer conference, where the term was said more than 140 times during the two-hour presentation. During the I/O conference, Cathy Edwards, vice president of engineering at Google, said that with standard Google search, people have to break down complex queries into multiple questions, search websites for information and craft the answer in their heads. With SGE, AI can do it all for you.
How to join the Google Search Labs waitlist
Here’s how to join the Search Labs waitlist so you can be among the first to test out Google SGE:
- Open Chrome browser on your computer.
- Sign in to your Google account.
- Open a new tab in your browser.
- At the top right, there will be a Labs icon (for a beaker) if the Labs are available to you.
- If the Labs icon is present, click on it and then click on it Join the waiting list.
You will receive an email when lab features become available.
SGE is part of Search Labs and includes experimental features such as code guidance, which makes coding suggestions directly in search and add to spreadsheets, a feature that can automatically bring information found in a search into Google Sheets.
If you are able to join SGE now, Google is asking you to agree to its privacy notice and asking that you not include sensitive or confidential personal information that “could be used to identify you or identify others in your interactions with SGE features.” This is because during this beta trial, some of the data will be analyzed by human reviewers, even though the data will be “stored in a manner not associated with your Google account.” It is possible to delete interactions via the My Activity page.
Google also cautions against the indiscretions involved in generative AI and accuracy may vary. This most likely refers to “hallucinations”, a problem found in generative AI where it can confidently say something is accurate when it is not. Google suggests that you do not rely on generative AI for medical, legal, financial, or other professional services.
Editors’ note: CNET uses an artificial intelligence engine to create some personal finance explanations that are edited and verified by our editors. For more see This post.SGE can be accessed via the Chome desktop web browser or the Google Apps for Android and iOS. Great language model
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