In response to the backlash, Google is working on improvements for AI Overviews, including better detection mechanisms for nonsensical queries, limiting the use of user-generated content for responses, and adding triggering restrictions for queries where AI Overviews were not helpful. Despite the setbacks, Reid remains optimistic, stating that there's nothing like having millions of people using the feature with many novel searches, indicating the company's commitment to improving the AI-powered search feature.
Key takeaways:
- Google has acknowledged the poor performance and misinformation provided by its new AI-powered search feature, AI Overviews, and issued an apology.
- The company has been criticized for the feature's reliance on Reddit user data as a source of knowledge and truth, which has led to misleading and inaccurate results.
- Google's VP and Head of Search, Liz Reid, admitted that while the feature was extensively tested before launch, it still made mistakes due to misinterpreting queries and nuances of language on the web.
- Google is working on improvements for the AI Overviews, including better detection mechanisms for nonsensical queries, limiting the use of user-generated content, and adding triggering restrictions for queries where AI Overviews were not helpful.