Google Unveils New AI-Powered Search Engine: Learn How to Sign Up
Google has recently introduced Search Generative Experience (SGE), an experimental version of its search engine that incorporates artificial intelligence directly into search results, according to a blog post published on Thursday.
Unlike traditional Google Search, which displays a list of blue links, SGE utilizes AI to provide answers directly on the search page. Upon entering a query, a green or blue box expands to present a unique answer generated by Google’s extensive language model, similar to OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
The information presented in SGE is sourced from various websites and includes links to the relevant sources used in generating the answer. Additionally, users can ask follow-up questions within SGE to obtain more specific results.
Currently, SGE is not publicly available and requires signing up for Google’s Search Labs. To join, simply follow the provided link. Please note that Search Labs is currently limited to a select number of individuals in the United States and is only available in English. However, you can join the waitlist for future access. SGE can be accessed through the Chrome desktop web browser or the Google apps for Android and iOS.
Google has not responded to requests for comment on this matter.
With the introduction of ChatGPT, an AI chatbot capable of providing unique answers to almost any question, companies have been incorporating generative AI features into their products to cater to growing public interest. Earlier this year, Google unveiled Bard, a ChatGPT-like AI chatbot. Microsoft also followed suit by integrating ChatGPT directly into Bing, along with an AI image generator powered by Dall-E, another OpenAI project. These AI chatbots rely on large language models (LLMs), which leverage extensive text data to generate human-like sentences. The underlying model aims to predict the most suitable word to continue sentence generation, often referred to as “autocomplete on steroids.”
At the recent Google I/O developer conference, AI was a central focus, with the term being mentioned over 140 times during the two-hour presentation. Cathy Edwards, Vice President of Engineering at Google, highlighted that with standard Google Search, users often need to break down complex queries into multiple questions, sift through various websites, and mentally formulate the answer. SGE, on the other hand, streamlines this process by leveraging AI to handle these tasks on behalf of the user.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to join the waitlist for Google Search Labs and gain access to SGE:
1. Open the Chrome browser on your computer or the Google App on your mobile device.
2. Sign in to your Google account.
3. Open a new tab in your browser.
4. Look for the Labs icon, which resembles a beaker, located at the top right corner of the screen. Please note that the Labs icon will only be visible if Labs is available to you.
5. If you see the Labs icon, click on it, and then select “Join Waitlist.”
6. Once you have joined the waitlist, you will receive an email notification when Search Labs becomes available to you.
SGE is a part of Search Labs and offers experimental features such as Code Tips, which provides coding suggestions directly in Search, and Add to Sheets, a feature that automatically imports information from Search into Google Sheets.
If you currently have access to SGE, Google requires you to review and agree to its privacy notice. They also request that you refrain from sharing sensitive or confidential personal information that could identify you or others during your interactions with SGE. While participating in this trial, some data may be analyzed by human reviewers. However, this data will be stored in a way that is not linked to your Google account. If desired, you can delete your interactions through the My Activity page.
It’s important to note that generative AI, including SGE, has its limitations, and accuracy may vary. Google specifically warns against relying on generative AI for medical, legal, financial, or other professional services.
