Google’s search engine is undergoing a major transformation with artificial intelligence at its core. CEO Sundar Pichai emphasized this shift during his recent earnings call, describing AI integration as a continuous journey. This transition began with AI dashboards, a controversial yet pivotal step in changing how billions of users access information.
The company is pushing forward with its vision. “As AI expands the range of queries people can ask, 2025 will be one of the most important years for search innovation,” Pichai stated. He outlined plans to incorporate AI features developed by DeepMind, reinforcing Google’s commitment to reshaping search.
AI Assistants and Automated Research
Google’s goal is to evolve its search engine into an AI assistant that scans the web, analyzes data, and presents a concise summary. This marks a significant departure from traditional search engines that simply provide links. The company has been moving in this direction for years but accelerated its efforts after OpenAI launched ChatGPT in late 2022. These changes could have major implications for websites dependent on Google’s traffic and advertisers relying on its search platform.
When asked about the future of AI-powered search, Pichai pointed to DeepMind’s Project Astra, a multimodal AI system capable of processing live video from a camera or screen. This technology could enhance various Google products, including augmented reality glasses. Additionally, Pichai introduced Gemini Deep Research, an AI agent designed to conduct in-depth analysis across multiple sources and generate synthesized responses in minutes. According to him, this system will automate tasks traditionally performed by search users.
Expanding AI Capabilities in Search
“You’re really expanding the use cases of search significantly, asking questions that you can’t always answer immediately, but you can spend some time answering,” Pichai explained. He confirmed that new AI-driven features will continue rolling out in 2025.
Google’s vision includes another AI agent, Project Mariner, which aims to interact with websites on behalf of users, reducing the need for direct human interaction, adds NIX Solutions. Pichai also hinted at potential changes to the search interface, suggesting it could become more chatbot-like, though details remain unclear.
Google is rapidly advancing AI integration within its search engine, and its plans will shape how users interact with information. We’ll keep you updated as these developments unfold.