Google Reportedly Upgrading Search With AI Chatbot, TikTok Videos

Google is set to give its search engine a facelift that will include AI follow-up questions to queries and integrated TikTok video clips, The Wall Street Journal reports(Opens in a new window).

Amid a surge in popularity for AI chatbot applications such as ChatGPT, in internal documents seen by the Journal, Google has said the move will help it better serve young people globally.

According to the company documents, the plan would mean the immensely popular search engine would be moved away from its traditional format, informally referred to as the “10 blue links.”

As the Journal reports, Google is planning to include AI-informed prompts to ask follow-up questions about queries that can’t be easily answered by traditional web results, and will also implement swipe through visuals such as TikTok videos in response to some searches. 

In the documents, Google executives are reported to have said: “More than answers, we’ll help you when there’s no right answer.”

At its annual I/O developer conference next week, Google is reportedly set to debut new features that let users have conversations with an AI program currently code-named “Magi.”

Google did not immediately respond to PCMag’s request for comment but a spokesperson told the Journal: “As search evolves, delivering high-quality information and supporting a healthy, open web will remain core to our approach.”

Earlier this week, the so-called ‘Godfather of AI’ added his voice to the growing wave of concern about the advent of AI, telling(Opens in a new window) The New York Times: “It is hard to see how you can prevent the bad actors from using it for bad things. I console myself with the normal excuse: If I hadn’t done it, somebody else would have.”

Meanwhile, the AI chatbot race continues to heat up. Days ago, Microsoft opened public access to its AI chatbot on Bing and Edge after having previously required interested users sign up to a waiting list.