Impressed with AI chatbots like Bard and ChatGPT? Now you can get a similar experience directly on Google Search. When you search, Google will fetch info from different sources and turn it into small consumable paragraphs at the top of the search results along with sources. Starting from the infamous 10 blue links, this is definitely the biggest change in the history of Google Search. As of now, this Search Generative Experience (SGE) is a beta feature and you need to join the waitlist to access it. Here’s how to join the waitlist and use generative AI on Google Search.
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Search Generative Experience vs Bard
Before we begin, if you are confused what’s the difference between Google Bard and Google Search’s Generative AI experience, you are not alone. Bard is a multi-purpose tool that you can use to research, generate emails, stories, scripts, solve riddles and math problems, etc. SGE, on the other hand, is only meant for research. SGE also cites sources for all the info it provides and gives you a streamlined experience to research deeper into the topic with suggestions and required images.
How to Join Search Labs Waitlist
Generative AI on Google Search is still in the experimental stage. You can access these Google Search experimental features by joining the Search Labs waitlist. Here’s how:
1. Open this Google Labs page in Google Chrome (other browsers are not supported) and scroll down to the Available in Labs section. Here you should find many of Google’s Labs features that are in the beta stage. Now click on the Join waitlist button below the Google Search option.
2. On the next page, click on the Join waitlist button. That’s it, you already have joined the waitlist.
Now you need to wait until you are off the waitlist. You will receive an email and also a notification from the Google App on your phone when you get access to beta features on Google Search. This can take from a few days to weeks.
How to Enable Search-Generative Experience in Search Labs
Once you are part of Search Labs, you can enable experimental features on Google Search and try them before others.
1. Once you are off the waitlist, open Google Search and click on the Flask icon at the top right corner of Google Search to open the Search Labs page. If you are on the phone, open the Google app and tap on the Flask icon at the top left corner. Alternatively, you can also open Search Labs directly from this link.
2. Click on Get Started in the pop-up and you should be able to find all the beta features you can add to the Google Search.
3. Now, to access Search Genetive Experience on Google Search, enable the toggle under the SGE option.
4. In the pop-up, read the terms (or don’t) and click on I agree to enable the feature. Most importantly, note that when you enable SGE, some of your searches will be anonymized and reviewed by humans to improve the feature. So make sure to not include any of your personal information or details in the searches directly.
5. Once done, now you can start using SGE on Google Search. Begin by clicking on the Try an example button under the SGE option.
How to Use Generative AI on Google Search
According to Google, this generative AI beta feature should work in more than 180+ countries. However, we could only make it work by using a VPN and connecting to a US server. If you are also not able to use the feature, try connecting to the United States in order to access it instantly.
1. Now, just search on Google to get a generative AI result right at the top of the search results. Remember that Google will not show an AI-generated result for all searches. It mostly works when you ask it to explain something or recommendations.
2. You should be able to find sources of the generated content on the right-hand side. Click on the column icon at the top right corner of the result to expand the result.
3. This expanded result will show sources for every piece of info provided by Google. Having a source to verify everything gives a better understanding and leaves lesser room for misinformation. That being said, in our testing, there were instances where Google misinterpreted the info from the source. These AI tools are still experimental and you need to double-check the info manually before confirming. Needless to say, they will get better with time.
4. Want to continue your research further? click on the Ask a follow up button at the bottom to begin the conversation. Google will also provide you with some related questions that you may have to make your work easier.
5. You will enter the Converse page, where you can continue to research deeper. Google will keep track of all your previous searches on the Converse page to provide you with results. But, generative AI is not made for conversations. Rather, it tries to display the required info in a concise way.
How Generative AI on Google Search Can Be Helpful
Generative AI on Google is still in an early stage and does not support all the features it promised in the Google IO 2023. In its current stage, there are few ways you can actually take advantage of Generative AI.
1. Concise Information
Previously, Google showed a snippet of the article directly in Search results which didn’t give a clear idea. Reading the entire article takes time. Generative AI on Google actually gives the required info concisely. As it also cites sources right below the cards, you can quickly follow the source and verify the info in case you are unsure.
2. Combine multiple searches into a single search
Let’s say, you want to find restaurants near your location that offer pure vegetarian dishes and also offer delivery, dine-in, and takeaway options. These kinds of searches are complex as you need to manually find vegetarian restaurants, and check for the ones that are near you. Also, you have manually check whether they offer all the options you need. Now this entire thing can be simplified into a single search. Just ask “Best pure vegetarian restaurants near me that offer delivery, dine-in, and takeaway”. Generative AI will do its thing and show you exactly that.
3. Use for Shopping
While you can use the generative AI feature for many things, more than anything, shopping on Google Search can be improved mostly. You can search for a product with all the details, and Google will show products that you can purchase right away. You can add more details such as color or specs in the Converse section to narrow down your search. Once you chose the product, ask where to buy and you will get all the links where you can get the exact selected product.
Accessing the Future of Google Search
Though some sort of AI always has been a part of Google Search, now with Generative AI, it is coming to front and center. While we are not able to compare products or images and videos are not embedded inside the generated content as claimed, Generative AI on Google Search is on to a good start. Compared to other language models like ChatGPT, Bing, and Bard, it does list more sources and is also more factually correct comparatively.
