Google expands AI integration in search engine, Enhances image ,voice queries
Google is further integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into its search engine, introducing features that allow users to ask voice-based questions about images and organize search results more effectively. These changes, announced on Thursday, represent the latest phase in Google’s AI-driven transformation, which began in May when the company introduced AI-generated summaries, or "AI Overviews," to its search results.
The introduction of these AI Overviews raised concerns among publishers, as fewer users were clicking on search links, reducing traffic to news websites like The New York Times and technology review platforms such as TomsGuide.com. However, Google has responded by incorporating more external links into these overviews, addressing worries that AI-driven summaries were diverting attention from important web content. A recent study by BrightEdge, a search traffic analysis firm, revealed that while general news publishers were losing traffic, specialized sites like Bloomberg.com and the National Institutes of Health saw an increase in visits through these AI-generated links.
A key part of Google's AI evolution builds upon its existing Lens feature, which allows users to search for objects in images. The Lens option now processes over 20 billion queries per month and is particularly popular among users aged 18 to 24, a demographic Google is keen to engage. With the latest update, users will be able to ask conversational questions in English about images viewed through a camera lens and receive search results. In addition, those enrolled in Google Labs can now test voice-activated features, enabling them to capture videos of moving objects—such as fish in an aquarium—and ask questions, receiving answers through AI Overviews.
Initially, Google’s AI will be used to organize search results for recipe and meal-related queries in English, grouping information into clusters of images, videos, and articles. The company hopes that this new feature will offer a more streamlined and intuitive search experience, even as it continues to fine-tune its AI’s accuracy and reliability.
Google’s decision to enhance its flagship search engine with more AI capabilities highlights the company’s commitment to the technology, as it navigates a major industry shift driven by AI innovations. This move positions Google to compete with emerging AI-powered alternatives like ChatGPT and Perplexity, which offer more conversational search experiences.
Google’s Vice President of Search Engineering, Rajan Patel, emphasized the company’s goal to make search simpler and more accessible. “The whole goal is to make search effortless for people, so they can search any way, anywhere they are,” Patel explained, noting that the AI features aim to enhance user convenience.
Despite the promise of AI-driven convenience, the technology has faced criticism for occasional inaccuracies. Google's AI Overviews have produced some notable errors, including advising users to put glue on pizza and eat rocks. These incidents were attributed to data gaps and online interference. However, Google asserts that it has resolved many of these issues and is now confident in using AI to curate information on its search results page.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Strict security measures in place in Mumbai for Messi's events at 2 venues Dec 14, say police
Mumbai (PTI): In view of Argentine superstar footballer Lionel Messi's visit to Mumbai on Sunday, the city police are implementing stringent security measures, like not allowing water bottles, metals, coins inside the stadiums and setting up watchtowers to keep an eye on the crowd, officials said.
The police also said taking extra care to avoid any stampede-like situation and to prevent recurrence of the chaotic situation that unfolded in Kolkata during Messi's visit on Saturday as thousands of fans protested inside the Salt Lake stadium here after failing to catch a clear glimpse of the football icon despite paying hefty sums for tickets.
Messi is expected to be present at the Cricket Club of India (Brabourne Stadium) in Mumbai on Sunday for a Padel GOAT Cup event followed by attending a celebrity football match. He is expected to proceed to the Wankhede Stadium for the GOAT India Tour main event around 5 pm.
"In view of Lionel Messi's visit to Mumbai, the police are geared up and have put in place a high level of security arrangements in and around the stadiums located in south Mumbai. Considering the chaos that prevailed in Kolkata and the security breach, we have deployed World Cup-level security arrangements at Brabourne and Wankhede stadiums," an official said.
Expecting heavy crowd near the stadiums during Messi's visit, the city police force has deployed more than 2,000 of its personnel near and around both the venues, he said.
As the Mumbai police have the experience of security 'bandobast' during the victory parade of ICC World Cup-winning Indian team and World Cup final match at the Wankhede Stadium, in which over one lakh cricket fans had gathered, we are prepared to handle a large crowd of fans, he said.
"We are trying to avoid the errors that occurred in the past," the official said.
There is no place to sneak inside the stadiums in Mumbai like the Kolkata stadium, according to him.
The police are also asking the organisers to provide all the required facilities to the fans inside the stadium, so that there will be no chaos, he said, adding the spectators have purchased tickets in the range of Rs 5,000 to 25,000. After paying so much of amount, any spectator expects proper services, while enjoying the event, he said.
The police are expecting 33,000 spectators at the Wankhede Stadium and over 4,000 at Brabourne Stadium. Besides this, more than 30,000 people are expected outside and around the stadiums just to have a glimpse of the football sensation, he said.
The organisers responsible for Messi's India visit recently came to Mumbai to discuss security arrangements. During the meeting, the Mumbai police asked them not to take the event lightly, according to the official.
After those requirements were fulfilled, the final security deployment was chalked out, he said.
Police has the standard procedure of the security arrangements inside the Wankhede Stadium, where people are barred from taking water bottles, metals objects, coins. Police are setting up watch towers near the stadiums and there will be traffic diversions, so that there is maximum space available to stand, according to the official.
Police are also appealing to the spectators to use public transport service for commuting and avoid personal vehicles to reach south Mumbai.
To avoid any stampede-like situation, police are also taking precautionary measures and will stop the fans some distance ahead of the stadium and public announcement systems will be used to guide the crowd. Barricades will be placed at various places to manage the crowd.
In case the crowd swells up beyond expectation, the police will divert people to other grounds and preparations in this regard underway, he said.
Additional police force has been deployed in south Mumbai to tackle any kind of situation, he said.
