"Google Search is now AI Search" equals the worst thing to happen to the internet since social media, except this time we can all see it coming | Tech Radar
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"Google Search is now AI Search" equals the worst thing to happen to the internet since social media, except this time we can all see it coming
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It's no overstatement to say that AI has fundamentally changed everything we thought we knew about the internet, and that's no more apparent than in Google's own drastic changes to Search announced at this year's Google I/O event.
In case you missed it, the tagline that the Silicon Valley giant hinged much of its two-hour presentation on was this: "Google Search is now AI Search." So what does that mean?
We've shared our teardown of new features coming to Google Search and its results page if you want the nitty-gritty, or you can watch our latest podcast episode where myself, Hamish Hector, Lance Ulanoff, Axel Metz and Matthew Bolton discuss the keynote in full.
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What I'm more interested in is how this changes things for you, the reader who finds new content and answers to their burning questions using the world's largest search engine. Here's how it might change the way you use the internet.
But first, let's explore the "why". Google doesn't just want to be the homepage of your internet browser anymore; now, it feels like it wants to be the internet. Its largest-ever changes to the Search box and results page mark a huge transition from Google being a gateway to more content towards bypassing the content creators altogether.
Despite Google's assurances during I/O that trusted sources and websites will still be suggested as part of its new, expanded and widget-laden AI Overview, and of course, users will still be able to see a list of results as usual beneath it, there's a glaring omission to the big picture; how will Google Search source reliable information when those sources no longer exist?
The fact of the matter is, websites like Tech Radar rely heavily on Google Search results to connect with our audiences around the world, yet with all these changes to Google, publications are seeing fewer and fewer referrals. It's had an immediate effect; some of my favorite tech and gaming publications have already shuttered, good journalists are out of work, and there remains a massive question mark over how we adapt to this rapidly changing space — and that should matter to you, too.
Because where on earth will Google get its reliable information and the "1 Billion facts" it updates every minute if there's no one left to publish them?
You might have noticed already, but Google relies heavily on sites like You Tube and community sites like Reddit to inform its results; both of which are platforms I use regularly for the same thing. The difference is that I, as a discerning reader, can understand the difference between user-generated content that holds bias and information presented by regulated, accredited media outlets.
We don't always get things right, and we're also not free of bias entirely, but journalists are a darn sight more likely to present a balanced viewpoint than your average Joe because of the various hoops we need to jump through to maintain our trusted status — something Google itself has fostered and encouraged with some of its SEO guidance over the years.
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Cutting out as much of the technical jargon as possible, what this means for you, dear reader, is that the best-worst case scenario is asking Google to help troubleshoot your smart home set-up or PC build could surface advice from a post made 7 years ago on Reddit by someone who maybe has the chops to give that advice. But at worst, it means you could be manipulated by nefarious actors gaming the system.
It's something the BBC has just recently explored; in just 20 minutes, journalist Thomas Germain was able to manipulate both Gemini and Chat GPT into believing he was a world-champion hot dog eater. In his more recent coverage, he notes how Google is fighting back against misinformation with harsh penalties to brands and sites seen to be manipulating search results, but to do that at scale across user-generated sites will be a tough ask.
So, instead, a brand might opt to pay a You Tuber or Tik Toker, or create a couple dozen bot accounts on Reddit to push the same message; ours is the best phone, the best web-hosting service, the best VPN. That becomes doubly nerve-racking if you're making health, finance or safety-related queries and unknowingly take advice from manipulative or untrustworthy sources.
What can you do about it? Precious little, if you plan to keep using Google Search regardless. Switching search engines is an option, or just refusing to engage with AI Mode altogether works, but personally, I'd like to hope you all develop your own idea of what a trusted source looks like and go straight to them next time you've got a query.
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Josephine Watson is Tech Radar's Managing Editor - Social & Engagement. Josephine is an award-winning (PPA 30 under 30 2024), NCTJ-trained journalist. Having previously written on a variety of topics, from pop culture to gaming and even the energy industry, she joined Tech Radar to support general site management. She is a smart home nerd, champion of Tech Radar's sustainability efforts as well and an advocate for internet safety and education. She has used her position to fight for progressive approaches towards diversity and inclusion, mental health, and neurodiversity in corporate settings. Generally, you'll find her fiddling with her smart home setup, watching Disney movies, playing on her Switch, or rewatching the extended edition of Lord of the Rings... again.
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