Google is reportedly contemplating the introduction of paid “premium” options powered by generative AI to its search engine, The Monetary Instances reported on April 2.
Sources near the matter instructed the newspaper that Google is exploring the potential of incorporating AI-enhanced search capabilities into its present suite of premium subscription companies.
The suite already contains entry to Google’s newest AI improvements, such because the Gemini AI assistant built-in inside Gmail and Google Docs.
Whereas the technological infrastructure for these premium options is below improvement, Google’s govt group has but to make a remaining resolution on the launch and its specifics.
Shifting away from advert income
Regardless of the proposed modifications, Google’s conventional search functionalities are anticipated to stay freely accessible, with commercials persevering with to accompany search outcomes — even for subscribers.
The potential shift to a paid mannequin can be a big departure for Google, which has traditionally offered shopper companies freed from cost, relying solely on promoting revenues.
In accordance with the report, the corporate just isn’t contemplating an ad-free search expertise however is dedicated to growing new premium capabilities and companies to reinforce its subscription choices.
The tech big highlighted its ongoing efforts to reinvent search to fulfill evolving person wants via generative AI, indicating substantial question progress in main markets with out confirming any particular plans for the longer term.
Google’s search and associated promoting ventures generated $175 billion throughout 2023, accounting for over half of its complete income. This poses a strategic dilemma for the corporate: adopting cutting-edge AI improvements with out jeopardizing its most profitable income supply.
Experimental SGE companies
The strategic consideration comes at a time when Google’s promoting enterprise faces potential disruption from superior AI applied sciences, practically a yr and a half following the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
In response, Google launched an experimental AI-powered search service in Might 2023, aiming to supply extra detailed solutions whereas sustaining the supply of hyperlinks and commercials. Nevertheless, it has been gradual to undertake options from its “Search Generative Expertise” (SGE) into the primary search engine.
The usage of generative AI in search outcomes requires considerably extra computing sources, making these superior options extra expensive for Google to offer. At the moment, entry to SGE is proscribed to a choose group of customers, together with some subscribers to the Google One service.
SGE gives varied options, together with the power to ask extra advanced questions, obtain subject snapshots, and observe up on outcomes, plus artistic instruments. The service launched AI picture technology in October 2023, offering performance just like a Midjourney and different apps.
No matter how Google’s AI-powered companies develop, the corporate will inevitably compete with OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Microsoft’s Bing AI, each of which have established income fashions combining free and premium entry to content material.
