Google Races to Build New Search Engine Amid AI Disruption: Report

Google Races to Build New Search Engine Amid AI Disruption: Report

Google is reportedly hurrying to enhance its search engine and develop an entirely new one due to the competition posed by rivals using artificial intelligence on their platforms. Last month, employees at the tech giant were said to be taken aback and “panic” ensued when they learned that Samsung was contemplating replacing Google as the default search option on its devices with Microsoft’s Bing, as the New York Times reported. Bing has historically been a competitor to Google, often playing a secondary role while users gravitated towards the familiar Google platform. However, according to the outlet, Bing is increasingly challenging Google after integrating artificial intelligence.

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Google is developing a strategy to integrate AI capabilities into its current search engine while also creating a brand new one, as reported by the Times, which examined internal documents outlining the strategy. The new search engine is part of a “Magi” project developed by a team of employees, including engineers and executives. According to the report, this search engine is designed to offer a more personalized experience than the existing one, aiming to predict users’ needs. “For years, we’ve been incorporating AI into Google Search not only to enhance the quality of our results significantly but also to create entirely new methods of searching, like Lens and multi-search,” stated Google spokesperson Lara Levin to Fox News Digital on Sunday.

“We have accomplished this responsibly and beneficially by upholding the high standards we established for providing quality information. Not every brainstorming session or product concept results in a launch. Still, as we’ve mentioned previously, we’re eager to introduce new AI-enhanced features to ‘Search’ and will provide further details soon,” Levin added.

Notably, the AI research lab OpenAI launched ChatGPT late last year, prompting the tech industry to intensify its efforts to develop the most advanced AI technology – and Google was no exception, as reported by the Times. OpenAI partners with Microsoft, and approximately two weeks after the launch of ChatGPT, Google supposedly formed a task force within its search division focused on developing AI products, according to the New York Times, citing two insiders familiar with the situation.

Since last year, Google has been developing AI functionalities and introduced its own chatbot, “Bard,” to a limited audience in March. However, it did not garner the same level of widespread appreciation as ChatGPT. OpenAI’s chatbot set records as the fastest-growing user base, reaching 100 million monthly active users by January.

The discussion surrounding AI technology captured global attention in March when a large number of tech experts, leaders, and others endorsed an open letter urging a six-month halt on the creation of robust AI systems. Among the notable signatories were Tesla and Twitter chief Elon Musk and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, who cautioned that “human-competitive intelligence can present significant risks to society and humanity.”