Google is reportedly contemplating the introduction of paid “premium” options powered by generative AI to its search engine, The Monetary Occasions reported on April 2.
Sources near the matter informed the newspaper that Google is exploring the potential of incorporating AI-enhanced search capabilities into its current suite of premium subscription providers.
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 underneath improvement, Google’s government workforce has but to make a closing resolution on the launch and its specifics.
Shifting away from advert income
Regardless of the proposed adjustments, Google’s conventional search functionalities are anticipated to stay freely accessible, with ads persevering with to accompany search outcomes — even for subscribers.
The potential shift to a paid mannequin will likely be a major departure for Google, which has traditionally offered shopper providers freed from cost, relying solely on promoting revenues.
In response to the report, the corporate isn’t contemplating an ad-free search expertise however is dedicated to creating new premium capabilities and providers to boost its subscription choices.
The tech large highlighted its ongoing efforts to reinvent search to fulfill evolving consumer wants via generative AI, indicating substantial question progress in main markets with out confirming any particular plans for the long run.
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 providers
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 availability of hyperlinks and ads. Nonetheless, it has been sluggish 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 supply. Presently, entry to SGE is restricted to a choose group of customers, together with some subscribers to the Google One service.
SGE supplies numerous options, together with the power to ask extra advanced questions, obtain matter 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 providers 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.
