Searching for websites on Google in Australia is about to take a turn for the weird, as Google’s AI overview system switches on locally.
Whether or not you like the obvious 2024 trend that is artificial intelligence in everything, you’re about to see more of it. AI in phones, AI in computers, AI in cars, and yes, AI in search.
It’s here, folks, as Google’s US AI overview test starts rolling across the Australian search hills, delivering an AI answer for questions asked to the engine, as well as to other queries that may not be questions as such.
Much like how Meta rolled out AI across Facebook and WhatsApp earlier this year, Google’s changes will see AI rolled across search right now, though it has been in testing the past few weeks.
The change means searches may just be a series of regular search results, but they may also get populated with AI-enhanced combinations of results, as Google uses an artificial intelligence not unlike the AI in its Pixel 9 Pro XL to interpret the query and its answers from sources around the web.
The approach means Google is attempt to answer searches in real-life language. Rather than see a simple list of results to click on, you’ll have an answer based on information published by writers and publishers that has been made available to Google.
Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t, occasionally delivering results that are at odds with other Google features, such as a designated featured snippet that also answers the question.
In short, it’s a change to how you look at search results, though it may not always be there, or always appreciated. Results can and will vary, but they’ll also improve over time. Hopefully with less references to glue on pizza.
