Imagine picking up your phone and asking Google a question. Instead of just showing you links, it gives you a quick, clear answer at the top of the page. This is happening right now for over 1.5 billion people every month.
According to TechCrunch, Google is making big changes to how search works using artificial intelligence (AI). The company, led by CEO Sundar Pichai, has rolled out new features like AI Overviews and Circle to Search that are changing how you find information online.
What Are Google’s New AI Search Tools?
Google has created several new ways to search using AI:
- AI Overviews – These are short summaries at the top of your search results that give you quick answers. Think of them like a friend who reads all the websites for you and tells you the most important parts.
- Circle to Search – This lets you circle anything on your phone screen to search for it right away. It’s like having a magic pen that can ask questions about whatever you see.
- Google Lens – This tool lets you search using pictures instead of words. Just point your camera at something, and Google will tell you what it is.
Google is also testing something called AI Mode for handling complicated questions. This is for when you need to ask something complex that regular search might not understand well.
How Many People Are Using These New Tools?
The numbers show these new tools are very popular:
- AI Overviews: 1.5 billion people use this every month
- Circle to Search: Usage went up by nearly 40% in just three months
- Google Lens: People did 5 billion more searches with this since October 2024
These tools are now available in more than 100 countries and work on over 250 million devices. Google started testing AI Overviews two years ago, but they’ve grown much faster since October 2024.
Why Is Google Making These Changes?
Google wants to keep you using their search engine instead of trying new AI tools like ChatGPT or Perplexity. These changes also help Google make more money – they’ve started showing ads in AI Overviews.
At the same time, government officials are watching Google closely. They worry that Google has too much control over how people search online – what experts call a “search monopoly.” This means Google needs to keep making search better to stay ahead.
The Powerful Technology Behind Google’s AI
According to a Google blog post, the company has built an impressive system to power all this AI:
- Over 2 million miles of fiber cables (enough to go around Earth about 80 times)
- 33 undersea cables connecting continents
- Special AI chips called TPUs and GPUs
Their newest AI chip, called Ironwood, is 10 times more powerful and uses almost half the electricity of older chips. Think of it like getting a new phone that’s much faster but needs charging less often.
Google’s Business During Uncertain Times
Even though the economy is uncertain, Google is still investing heavily in AI. According to CRN, Google plans to spend ₹6.25 lakh crore (about $76 billion) on cloud and AI technology. The company is also trying to save money by controlling how much they pay employees and making their computer systems more efficient.
What This Means For You
These changes will make searching for information faster and easier for you. Instead of clicking through many websites, you’ll often get answers right away at the top of your search results.
The Google Blog Post mentions that they’re expanding AI Overviews to more countries, more users, and more types of questions because people like using them.
When you need to search for something you see in the real world, Circle to Search and Google Lens make this much simpler. Just circle what you’re curious about or take a picture, and Google will help you learn more about it.
The Future of How We Search
As AI gets smarter, the way you search for information will keep changing. Google is working hard to stay ahead of competitors by making search more helpful and natural.
The big question is: Are you ready for this new way of finding information? As these AI tools become part of everyday life, they’ll change how we learn, shop, and make decisions. The future of search is happening right now, and it’s all about making things simpler for you.
