Martin Bayton
Key Takeaways from Google I/O 2024 Developer Conference
- AI generated summaries in search
- New AI tools
- Updated version of Gemini
- Continued traditional search integration
At its May 2024 I/O Developer Conference, Google announced several major updates to its search engine, now incorporating advanced AI-generated summaries for US users. This feature, known as “AI overviews,” is powered by Google’s Gemini AI model and is designed to provide concise responses at the top of search results, alongside traditional web links. The rollout will begin in the US and is expected to reach over a billion users globally by the end of the year.
Google’s head of search, Liz Reid, highlighted that these AI overviews will help users by summarizing complex information from multiple sources. Reid emphasized the potential time-saving benefits of this technology, suggesting it will make searches more efficient and informative.
In addition to search enhancements, Google introduced several other AI-driven tools:
- Veo: A text-to-video AI model that generates videos based on written prompts, rivalling OpenAI’s Sora.
- Project Astra: A new AI assistant that can use a smartphone’s camera to identify locations, read and explain code, and create alliterative sentences.
These announcements come amidst rising competition in the AI space, particularly from OpenAI, which recently launched GPT-4o a voice-interactive version of its GPT-4 model.
Google’s New “AI Overview” in 100 Seconds
Here is a brief preview of what using Google’s new “AI Overview” looks like.
Traditional Search Still Prominent
Despite these advancements, Google reassured that traditional search results would continue to coexist with AI-generated summaries, emphasizing that web links remain crucial for directing traffic to publishers and creators. The company also introduced an updated version of its Gemini large language model, dubbed 1.5 Flash. It’s a new smaller version of Gemini 1.5 Pro designed to be faster and more efficient so it can be used for specific tasks where speed is important
As Google integrates more AI into its core products, the landscape of digital search is poised for significant transformation, promising more personalized and streamlined user experiences.
Follow our blog and sign up to our newsletter for future updates on GPT-4o and other AI developments or CONTACT US for a free 1-on-1 consultation for your AI project.