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You knew it was coming: Google begins testing AI-only search results (arstechnica.com)

submitted 1 month ago by spit_evil_olive_tips@beehaw.org to c/technology@beehaw.org

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The company has announced an expansion of its AI search features, powered by Gemini 2.0. Everyone will soon see more AI Overviews at the top of the results page, but Google is also testing a more substantial change in the form of AI Mode. This version of Google won't show you the 10 blue links at all—Gemini completely takes over the results in AI Mode.

...

If this sounds like something you absolutely do not want, you can safely ignore it for now. The experimental feature is only available for Google One AI Premium subscribers, who pay $20 per month for access to Google's best LLMs. This could be an indication that generating these search pages is extremely costly even for a company that gives away so much AI processing for free. Still, Google's AI efforts move fast, and you could find yourself confronted with AI Mode soon. It only took a few months for the Search Generative Experience to graduate from Labs as AI Overviews.

from the primary source on Google's own blog:

As we’ve rolled out AI Overviews, we’ve heard from power users that they want AI responses for even more of their searches.

uh-huh. sure. "power users" have been banging down your door and insisting they want more search results that say it's safe to eat one rock per day.

and these "power users" have apparently also been demanding that Google remove the normal search results that appear below the AI-generated slop.

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[–] Steve 21 points 1 month ago (3 children)

Obligatory mention of Kagi

And my code link for 3 people to try it for 3 months.

[–] spit_evil_olive_tips@beehaw.org 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I've been using Kagi for ~2 months, after a friend gave me a similar invite code. this news from Google affirmed my decision to pay for Kagi once the 3-month trial is over, instead of going back to Google.

[–] Aussiemandeus@aussie.zone 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

What's it worth?

[–] spit_evil_olive_tips@beehaw.org 3 points 1 month ago

their pricing page is here.

I'm paying 10 USD/month for their unlimited plan, there's also a 5 USD/month tier but I'm sure that I would exceed its 300 searches/month limit.

so it's not dirt-cheap, but not stupidly expensive either. I can afford it, and I'm happy to pay it because it's a business model that I would like to see succeed.

[–] CameronDev@programming.dev 5 points 1 month ago

Thanks, I've been on the fence for a while, doing the free trial now

[–] Powderhorn@beehaw.org 5 points 1 month ago

Thank you. I just signed up and am happy to be able to test drive through June.

[–] Powderhorn@beehaw.org 9 points 1 month ago

"Waiter? I'll take the B."