Edgar Cervantes/Android Authority
long story short
- Google is reportedly exploring how to offer paid artificial intelligence search capabilities within existing subscriptions.
- Traditional ad-supported Google search will continue to be available for free.
Google, the tech giant synonymous with online search, may be considering sweeping changes to its business model.according to a Financial Times The company is exploring how to offer advanced artificial intelligence capabilities for a fee within its core search product, the report said.
Sources familiar with Google’s plans reportedly said these advanced AI-powered search features could become part of Google’s existing subscription services, such as Gemini Advanced or Google One. Notably, the report suggests that even the premium version of Google Search will continue to contain ads, while the traditional version will continue to be free to use.
This potential shakeup appears to stem from Google’s need to balance two priorities: integrating cutting-edge artificial intelligence into its search experience while protecting the lucrative search advertising that forms the backbone of its finances. The company’s search-related ad revenue topped $175 billion last year, a figure that underscores the stakes. Meanwhile, the meteoric rise of OpenAI’s ChatGPT has thrust Google into a race for AI dominance.
Would you pay for AI-powered Google search?
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Google began testing its AI-driven search service, called Search Generated Experiences (SGE), last May. SGE offers AI-driven snippets and query responses, as well as traditional link and ad presentation. The SGE experience has been purely opt-in until recently, when Google began testing it as a default experience for limited users. However, the company has been slow to incorporate these SGE features into its main search engine, likely due to the higher computational costs associated with generating AI models.
While SGE offers potential benefits to users, it also challenges the foundations of Google’s current business model. AI’s ability to provide comprehensive answers could lead to fewer clicks on website links, leading to fewer ad impressions and potentially jeopardizing Google’s main source of revenue.
The report further claims that Google engineers are already working on the technology, but the final decision and release timeline are still uncertain. Are you willing to pay for a better Google search experience? Let us know in the comments below.