Google Search is getting AI powered results, whether you like it or not

Google has been slowing powering all its products, including Search, with generative AI-based capabilities. However, until now, a lot of these capabilities have been available as an opt-in feature. But now, the company is planning to change that. Meaning? It is planning to make generative AI-based Google Search experience called Search Generative Experience (SGE) the highlight of Google Search

For the unversed, Google announced Search Generative Experience or SGE last year at Google I/O 2023. Since then, SGE in Google Search has been available as an opt-in functionality. But now, the company is changing this and making SGE the default experience available for users.

A Google spokesperson told Search Engine Land that it has started showing AI overviews in the main Google Search results even if the users have not opted for the SGE functionality. However, there is a caveat. Google isn’t rolling out this experience to all Google Search users who haven’t opted for SGE yet. Instead, it is making this feature available on a ‘subset of queries, on a small percentage of search traffic in the US’.

Image: Google

At the moment, Google is showing SGE-powered results in Google Search on a set of complex queries where it thinks generative AI can be helpful. As per the publication, these are queries where Search determines that it would be helpful to results from a host of webpages instead of a single web page. In simple words, SGE powered results show up in Google Search only when the company’s algorithm determines that results that its generative AI would generate would be better and more useful than the ones that users would otherwise see on Google Search.

How will SGE powered results help Google Search users?

SGE powered results will show up differently in Google Search than the conventional results. Google will show the answer along with sources for its data under the search bar in a green box. This box will have the answer to your Search queries. All other relevant links will show up under it.

When will SGE be available to all Google Search users as a default option?

There is no word on when SGE will be available as a default option to all users. At the moment, the company is testing it out with more and more users. It will roll it out to more users globally once the testing is done and the company has fine-tuned the feature.