Google’s Conversational Search Could Update Results While You Speak

Android tipster, AssembleDebug, recently took to X to share a screen recording of a potential Google feature: conversational search. The demo shows the search engine responding to user’s voice queries in real-time, updating the results as the user spoke. While voice input is already a Google feature, it currently doesn’t have it integrated with AI to allow follow-up questions and responses in real time.

The demo of new conversational search in Google app. It continuosly listens to your voice where you can ask followup questions while performing a search.#Android #Google pic.twitter.com/DgXnMx5DU4

— AssembleDebug (Shiv) (@AssembleDebug) November 4, 2024

The tipster reports that Google is currently experimenting with the feature and may release it soon, although we don’t have much intel on when. If launched, it will likely be a mobile-exclusive feature.

2024 has been a big year for online AI agents and dedicated AI tools that are supposed to respond to your queries in the most human-like way possible. Being capable of retaining memory and understanding context are some features these AI tools heavily boast. This means you can ask it follow up questions after your initial query and it will remember and understand what you’re referring to. The screen recording shows “Where is Taj Mahal?” as the first query and “Why was it built?” as the third question, showing a more conversational interaction.

Conversational search isn’t drastically different from other AI tools using Gemini AI or ChatGPT. The convenience here lies in its direct integrations within the search results.

It’s apparent that Google is scrambling to keep its search engine relevant looking at the sudden surge of AI chatbots. Its most recent threat is OpenAI’s ChatGPT Search which is promising to bring a natural language interface with timely answers and updated query results.

Google has already suffered from excessive affiliate marketing and SEO authority-chasing websites. Its search results have recently gotten worse. The addition of Gemini AI overviews transformed the traditional search experience, frustrating many users. It remains to be seen whether conversational search will improve the app or further detract from its usability.

Many users complain that the search engine is in such a poor state that they have to end their queries with “Reddit” so they can find “real” results, avoiding affiliate-links-hungry text or an AI-generated articles. Despite the rise in generative AI bots, no one has still been able to successfully trump Google as of yet. But it makes sense why Google is trying to future-proof its search engine.