CEO Sundar Pichai hints at chatAI integration with Google search

Google CEO Sundar Pichai has announced plans to incorporate conversational artificial intelligence (AI) features into the company's flagship search engine.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Pichai stated that AI advancements will enhance Google's ability to answer a variety of search queries. "Will people be able to ask questions to Google and engage with LLMs in the context of search? Absolutely," Pichai said.

Pichai also dismissed reports that chatbots posed a threat to Google's search business, which accounts for more than half of the company's revenue. He proposed tapping Google's lead in developing computer programs called large language models (LLMs) in the search function. LLMs can process and respond to natural-language prompts with human-like prose, allowing users to ask follow-up questions to their original queries.

Google is testing several new search products and has begun testing new AI features within Gmail and other work-related products. Pichai revealed that Google Brain and DeepMind would work together more closely to build large algorithms to improve Bard. Like Microsoft, Google aims to use its investment in AI models to win wider business.

However, Microsoft has already deployed the technology behind the ChatGPT system in its Bing search engine. Pichai is dealing with one of the biggest threats to Google's core business in years as he also faces pressure to cut costs. In January, Alphabet disclosed it would slash 12,000 jobs or 6% of staff. Microsoft expects to generate $2 billion in revenue for every percentage point it gains in the search market, of which Google has a more than 90% share.

When asked why the company did not release a chatbot earlier, Pichai said Google was still trying to find the right market. Nevertheless, Pichai's proposal to integrate conversational AI into Google's search engine could revolutionize the way we interact with the internet. With Google and Microsoft competing in the race to develop the best AI-powered search engine, the future of search technology looks exciting.

Google's shares traded higher by 2.37% at $107.44 on Thursday.