Google is showing fewer AI-generated search results
The AI Overviews feature, which was released in May, became well-known for displaying odd results like recommending pizza with glue and eating rocks.
A study has shown that over the past few weeks, Google has been displaying AI-generated search results less frequently. According to data gathered by BrightEdge, a search engine optimization company, AI overviews decreased in search by 7% on June 30 from 11% on June 1. In addition, there was a significant decrease in search citations from Reddit and Quora.
After picking up jokes from Reddit and the satirical news website The Onion, the AI Overviews feature, which was launched earlier in May, gained notoriety by displaying bizarre results like recommending glue on pizza and eating rocks.
After that, Google made changes stating that it was adding safeguards to identify illogical queries that shouldn't have AI Overviews and limiting the use of user-generated content in AI Overviews.
The study's methodology, according to a spokesperson for Google, was flawed and did not reflect their own internal findings, according to The Verge. Users who had selected the "AI Overviews & More" feature were not distinguished from those who had not.
They added that AI Overviews will not appear for other users and will only appear for users who have selected Google's experimental Search Labs feature. BrightEdge, on the other hand, stated that they were keeping track of users who had selected only AI Overviews.
In an effort to compete with AI-powered chatbots and search engines like ChatGPT and Perplexity, Google launched AI Overviews.
The company led by Sundar Pichai does not appear to be considering stopping the feature at this time. The spokesperson went on to say that AI Overviews have increased value and will continue to be refined to include better outcomes.
