Google began testing AI-summarized leads to Google Search, AI Overviews, two years in the past, and continues to increase the function to new areas and languages. By the corporate’s estimation, it’s been a giant success. AI Overviews is now utilized by greater than 1.5 billion customers month-to-month throughout over 100 nations.
AI Overviews compiles outcomes from across the net to reply sure questions. When you seek for one thing like “What is generative AI?” AI Overviews will present AI-generated textual content on the high of the Google Search outcomes web page. While the function has dampened site visitors to some publishers, Google sees it and different AI-powered search capabilities as doubtlessly significant income drivers and methods to spice up engagement on Search.
Last October, the corporate launched adverts in AI Overviews. More not too long ago, it began testing AI Mode, which lets customers ask complicated questions and follow-ups within the stream of Google Search. The latter is Google’s try to tackle chat-based search interfaces like ChatGPT search and Perplexity.
During its Q1 2025 earnings name on Thursday, Google highlighted the expansion of its different AI-based search merchandise as properly, together with Circle to Search. Circle to Search, which helps you to spotlight one thing in your smartphone’s display and ask questions on it, is now out there on greater than 250 million gadgets, Google stated — up from round 200 million gadgets as of late final 12 months. Circle to Search utilization rose near 40% quarter-over-quarter, in accordance with the corporate.
Google additionally famous in its name that visible searches on its platforms are rising at a gentle clip. According to CEO Sundar Pichai, searches by means of Google Lens, Google’s multimodal AI-powered search expertise, have elevated by 5 billion since October. The variety of individuals purchasing on Lens was up over 10% in Q1, in the meantime.
The development comes amid intense regulatory scrutiny of Google’s search practices. The U.S. Department of Justice has been pressuring Google to spin off Chrome after the court docket discovered that the tech large had an unlawful on-line search monopoly. A federal decide has additionally dominated that Google has an adtech monopoly, opening the door to a possible breakup.
