Google began testing the results of its expansion of AI in Google Search, AI Overview two years ago, and continues to expand its capabilities to new regions and languages. The company estimates it was a huge success. The AI overview is used by over 1.5 billion users every month in over 100 countries.
AI Overview compiles results around the web to answer specific questions. When searching for something like “What is generative AI?”, AI overview displays the text generated in the AI at the top of the Google search results page. While this feature weakens traffic to some publishers, Google sees IT and other AI-powered search capabilities as a way to increase potentially meaningful revenue drivers and search engagement.
Last October, the company launched an ad with an AI overview. Recently, I have begun testing AI modes. This allows users to ask complex questions and follow-ups in the Google search flow. The latter is an attempt by Google to take on chat-based search interfaces like ChatGPT search and confusion.
During its first quarter 2025 revenue call on Thursday, Google also highlighted the growth of other AI-based search products, including Circle to Search. While Sircle to Search can highlight something on your smartphone screen and ask questions about it, Google said it’s now available on over 250 million devices, starting with about 200 million devices in the second half of last year. The company said use of search from circles rose quarterly by nearly 40%.
Google also said it is calling for visual searches on the platform to grow with stable clips. According to CEO Sundar Pichai, searching for Google Lens, Google’s multimodal AI-powered search technology, has seen a 5 billion increase since October. Meanwhile, the number of people shopping with lenses increased by more than 10% in the first quarter.
This growth comes amidst the scrutiny of Google’s highly regulated search practices. The US Department of Justice has pressured Google to spin off Chrome after the court determined that the tech giant had an illegal online search monopoly. The federal judge also determined that Google has an Adtech monopoly, opening the door to a potential disbandment.
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