Google CEO Sundar Pichai recently made a statement outlining the company's AI technology plans and how they could evolve in the coming years. Specifically, Pichai said that the company might integrate Large Language Models (LLMs) into its search engine in the future, making it possible for users to interact with AI models directly as they search. While Google has long been a pioneer in developing LLMs, they have yet to use them in search. However, with Microsoft integrating chat GPT into Bing, Google could face tough competition, so it may need to develop its AI capabilities to maintain its dominant position in the search industry.

The Significance of AI Technology in Search

Google's search business accounts for just over half of parent company Alphabet's revenue. So, one of the biggest threats to the company is needing to catch up in search engine technology. However, Pichai believes the opportunity for AI technology in search is more significant now than ever. This is due to the huge advances made in LLMs, which can process natural language and generate human-like speech.

While some may wonder how users would interact with LLMs as they search, Pichai believes it is not only possible but also inevitable. As mentioned earlier, Google has already been working on LLMs, so it is only a matter of time before they integrate them into search. However, this would be a considerable change as search results have been link-based for the past 20 years. If LLMs are integrated, users would have more natural, conversational interactions with search engines, which could potentially revolutionize the way we search for information.

Of course, this would also be a major shift in the search engine industry, which Google has dominated for many years. However, with Microsoft integrating chat GPT into Bing, other companies are starting to catch up. Google will need to continue to innovate to maintain its position, but with AI technology evolving rapidly, the potential for growth in this area is enormous.

Google Pushes Ahead with AI Efforts Despite Cost-Cutting Measures

While Google is cutting costs, it is also pushing ahead with its AI efforts following the success of its Chat GPT. The company has long used AI systems to understand complex queries better, and with the introduction of LLMs, the potential for AI in search is even more excellent. While it remains to be seen how Google will integrate LLMs into search, it is clear that the company is committed to advancing its AI technology to maintain its industry dominance.

Of course, the payoff in the race to bring AI to search engines is enormous. Search advertising remains Google's largest source of revenue, with $162 billion in sales last year. If Google can implement LLMs successfully, it could open up a whole new world of opportunities for the company. Users would be able to interact with search engines more naturally and conversationally, which could revolutionize how we search for information. However, it remains to be seen how this technology will be implemented and how quickly users will adopt it.

Google's Bard Chatbot and AI Capabilities Development

In March, Google released Bard, an AI-powered chatbot, to the public. The chatbot was launched as a standalone site to redirect users to Google's search engine if they needed additional information. Some have speculated that Google may have been testing how users interacted with AI in this format. The company may use this experience to further develop its AI capabilities. Pichai has said that Google plans to improve Bard using new AI models. Still, it is still being determined when the current waitlist registration system will end and when Bard will be freely available to everyone.

Overall, integrating LLMs into search engines could significantly shift how we search for information. From its early days to the present, Google has kept the basic experience of putting in a search term and getting a list of results. Now, change is coming.

The new AI-powered Bing offers natural language interaction and website summaries. While the number of Bing users is limited, if Google, which has 80-90% of the search engine market share, supports it, the impact will be enormous.

However, there are several concerns, including the reliability of AI answers and compatibility with the advertising business. Many businesses receive advertising revenue through Google, and there will be great interest in how advertising will change and whether this will lead to lost sales opportunities.