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Google Expands AI Overview to Over 100 Countries, Adds New Features

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Google is bringing its AI Overview feature to search results worldwide, making it accessible to more than 100 countries as part of a global rollout. This feature, launched initially in May 2024, uses generative AI to provide a quick summary of the search topic and display it at the top of Google’s search results page. AI Overview aims to help users get a fast and easy-to-read summary of relevant information without having to click through multiple links.

The Journey of AI Overview

Google introduced AI Overview, originally called the “Search Generative Experience,” during its I/O 2023 conference as an experimental feature. After a year of testing and adjustments, it was integrated as the default search experience in May 2024. Initially, users were wary about the accuracy of AI Overview, as there were instances of it producing bizarre and incorrect advice—like suggesting people eat rocks or add glue to pizza sauce for extra “tackiness.” Despite this, Google has continued to refine and improve the tool, expanding its availability to more countries and languages.

Global Rollout and Language Support

On Monday, Google announced that AI Overview is now available in seven languages—English, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish. U.S. users who meet certain age requirements have automatic access to the feature, while international users can join the “AI Overviews and more” experiment in Search Labs to try it. This expansion brings Google’s AI Overview to a larger audience, including recent rollouts in the U.K., India, Japan, Indonesia, Brazil, and Mexico.

New Features Added in October

In October, Google added some notable new features to the AI Overview experience. The most significant addition is the incorporation of paid ads within AI-generated summaries. This means that sponsored links now appear alongside AI-generated summaries, allowing Google to monetize the AI Overview experience further. Additionally, Google has enabled Lens technology to enhance video search capabilities. Users can now ask questions about specific items in a video clip, and Lens will offer links to visually similar products, along with product reviews, price comparisons, and store locations where users can make purchases.

User Reactions and Potential for Growth

User opinions on AI Overview have been mixed. Some appreciate the quick information it provides, while others criticize it for potential accuracy issues. According to Google, the addition of AI Overview has led users to explore a wider range of websites, especially for more complex questions. Google claims that when users click through from AI Overview, they are more likely to stay longer on websites, improving engagement and interaction quality.

As Google continues to develop AI Overview, it’s uncertain whether it will transform search as Google hopes or become a feature that users find unnecessary. Google’s commitment to improving the feature and addressing accuracy issues suggests that it’s here to stay, but only time will tell if it reaches its full potential or fades away like previous, less successful features.