Google is adding new AI-powered search features to Google Search and Google Search Labs, in addition to providing AI insights for searchers in the US this week.
New AI-powered features include AI review customization, multi-step reasoning capabilities, scheduling capabilities, AI-curated search results, and the new Google Lens query-video feature. New features require users to log in.
Setting up AI hints
Coming to Search Labs is the ability to customize AI reviews to “simplify language or break it down into more detail,” explained Liz Reed, head of Google Search. Clicking on “Simplified” will provide users with a more basic AI generic answer; clicking Break it down will give a much more detailed answer.
This functionality refines search results without requiring multiple searches during the same search.
Here’s how it looks.
Refining AI Overviews is coming soon to Search Labs for English-language queries in the US
Multilevel reasoning ability
Google Search can now provide multi-step reasoning using Gemini’s step-by-step logic. “Instead of splitting your question into multiple searches, you can ask your most complex questions, taking into account all the nuances and caveats you have in mind, all in one step,” Reed wrote.
The example below from Google shows how multi-level reasoning works. An example is when you’re looking for a new yoga or pilates studio that’s popular in your community, conveniently located for your daily commute, and that also offers a discount for new members. You can ask Google Search to “find the best yoga or pilates studios in Boston and show details about their introductory offers and walking time from Beacon Hill.”
Here’s how it looks.
Multilevel reasoning is also coming soon to Search Labs for English queries in the US
Planning opportunities
The Scheduling feature lets you schedule what you need right in Google Search. This will give you a choice and the ability to create plans with others, it will show you links to recipes on the web, you can export those results and replace the details of a particular plan with another version in a collection of different plans. In addition, it not only shows you the search results, but also schedules them with you.
For example, you can search for “create a 3-day meal plan for a group that’s easy to prepare” and you’ll get a starting point with a wide variety of recipes from around the web. You can change parts of the plan as you like, then export them to Google Docs or Gmail.
Planning is coming to parties, dates and training at Search Labs later this year in the US
Search results curated by AI
Google Search will use AI to group search results into specific categories. This will help you think about options for your query, Google’s Hema Budaraju, Senior Director of Generative Search Experience, told us. You’ll be served search results “categorized under unique, AI-generated headings that represent a wide variety of perspectives and content,” Google wrote.
Here’s how AI-curated search results will appear:
This functionality will roll out to dishes and recipes, followed by movies, music, books, hotels, shopping and more later this year directly in Google Search for US English results. It is not available as a Google Search Labs plug-in feature.
Lens search with video
Search through the video window allows users to record video and ask questions during the recording; Google will respond based on the questions asked. “We’re able to take visual search to a whole new level with the ability to ask questions over video,” Reid said.
This reminds me of Multisearch with images and Circle for searching but with video.
Here’s how it will work when it goes live later this year.
Video search will soon be available in English for Search Labs users in the US