In the era of advanced technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the buzzword on everyone's lips, and Alphabet Inc is leading the charge with its ambitious AI-driven projects. While Google has already made waves with its chatbot Bard and other AI products that focus on text-to-images and text-to-videos, it is now taking things to the next level with the integration of some "radical" AI tools into its search engine.
Samsung has recently replaced Google with Microsoft's Bing as its default search engine on its devices, which has reportedly prompted Alphabet to hit the "panic" button. This is because Bing and other AI-powered search engines seem to be giving Google a run for its money. However, Google is not resting on its laurels and is gearing up to build an "all-new" search engine based on AI, with all new projects rolled out under the name Magi.
Google's Project Magi will introduce a whole host of new features that are being developed by executives, designers, and engineers. Reportedly, nearly 160 people are working full-time on the project, with the aim of providing users with a far more personalized experience than its existing search engine. The new search will learn what users are seeking after they begin using it and will offer preselected options on what to shop for and information to look for, among other things. It will also be more conversational, like seeking the advice of a helpful person.
The Magi Project is still in its early stages, and there is no clear timeline for its potential announcement. However, Google is already adding some AI features to its existing search experience before modifying the search engine. Interestingly, search results and queries will continue to lead to financial transactions and feature ads, unlike Google's chatbot Bard, which does not feature ads. The new features will also help users get answers on coding and writing code based on their prompts.
According to reports, Google asked some of its staff to test the features under Magi earlier this month and encouraged them to ask follow-up questions to test the search's ability to sustain conversations. Google plans to initially release the tools to one million users, progressively rolling out to up to 30 million by the end of 2023. As of now, these features will be exclusively available in the US.
If the Magi project helps Google regain its position as the leader in search, it could be a game changer. This comes at a time when Google is facing various issues, including economic slowdowns, antitrust investigations, and content moderation issues. Nevertheless, as the current leader in search, the company has been working to ensure that it is a participant in the ongoing AI race, according to Jim Lecinski, Google's Vice President of Sales and Services.
