Google's Head of Search, Elizabeth Reid, highlights the evolving nature of search driven by user curiosity and technological advancements. Google is leveraging AI, including a custom Gemini model, to enhance search capabilities, moving towards a more intuitive and comprehensive experience. AI Overviews provide quick answers and links for further exploration, leading to increased user engagement and satisfaction. The company is also exploring personalised experiences and domain-specific search to cater to individual preferences and learning styles.
Reid predicts a future where the traditional search bar becomes less prominent, with voice and visual search gaining traction. Google aims to make search more accessible and effortless, allowing users to ask questions naturally without needing to adapt to the technology. The focus is on enabling users to ask anything they're curious about, addressing questions they might hesitate to ask due to complexity. Multimodality will play a key role, ensuring users can interact with search in their preferred style and language.
However, Google's shift towards keeping users within its own properties raises concerns about traffic to publishers' websites. Despite this, Google maintains that supporting publishers remains a consideration. The company is focused on making search more intuitive and capable of addressing even the most complex questions, with AI playing a central role in simplifying research, planning, and brainstorming.