Google is bringing even more AI to Search with these new ‘Labs’ features

Ben Schoon | May 14 2024 - 11:40 am PT

Google today announced that AI Overviews are widely rolling out in Search, but there are also some new features available to those looking to test them out early.

Since Google announced the Search Generative Experience last year, the company been building on it with additional features and capabilities. That includes pulling in videos, an image generator, shopping features for clothes, and more.

At Google I/O 2024, we’re getting a look at the next wave of “Labs” features for AI in Google Search.

There will be a few key points, starting with the ability to “adjust” AI Overviews.

“Coming soon” in the US, users will be able to tweak an AI Overview using one of three buttons. There will be the original answer, as well as a “Simpler” version that Google says will use more basic and easy-to-understand language and will be shorter. Beyond that, there’s a “Break It Down” option that will take a deeper dive into whatever you’re searching about with a much longer AI answer.

Next up is the ability for Google Search AI to use Gemini’s multi-step reasoning. This, Google says, will be useful for complex questions.

One example brought out is asking the AI to find a nearby business – in this case a yoga or pilates studio – that’s popular with locals and has a discount for new members. Google says this will be possible with prompts such as “find the best yoga or pilates studios in Boston and show details on their intro offers and walking time from Beacon Hill.”

Past that, the AI in Google Search will also be able to help with meal and trip planning. Available starting today for Labs users, this functionality will pull in recipes from around the web which Google says will be a “starting point” for meal plans. You can refine the results with your preferences. Similarly, you’ll be able to use this for planning a trip. Google says more planning options, such as date nights or workouts, will be available later this year.

For meal planning, you’ll also be able to export the plan, and even quickly create a shopping list from the ingredients.

“Soon,” Google will also offer a results page organized entirely by AI. This page will use AI-generated headlines to make it easier to digest the information given to you. This can be used for finding restaurants or recipes at first, but will work for movies, books, music, hotels, shopping, and more in the future.

Finally, Google will also let you use video in Search.

By recording a video of what you’re trying to find more information on, Google can use AI to recognized what’s going on and save you the trouble of finding the right words describe the issue or topic. Google gives the example of finding out what’s wrong with a record player just from using a video clip.

Like every other feature revealed, Google will require that users sign up for access through Labs before the feature is available. These features will be available first in the US and in English, but expanding over time.

Meanwhile, Google also announced that AI Overviews will be rolling out to all users starting today.