Googleused its daily Doodle today to promote its new AI mode. AI Mode is a new way to search for results on Google that the company has been pushing more lately. It first appeared at or near the top of typical search results, before a dedicated tab for it popped up under the search bar near other options like Images or News.
As reported by9to5Google, today’s Google Doodle featured the company’s logo, which jumps together into a single G, creating some multicolored sparkles, before hopping back out into the full name. On mobile, users simply see the G and colored dots. Clicking either Doodle brings you to an explanation of AI Mode and articles about it. There is also an option to try out AI Mode, which brings you to its dedicated tab. This Google Doodle seems to have come out in tandem withAI Mode results being removed from some searches and largely relegated to their own tab.
Today’s Google Doodle Directs Users To The New Home Of AI Mode
Google’s AI Mode Now Seems Restricted To Its Own Tab
Today’sGoogle Doodle promotes the search engine’s AI Mode, and directs you to information regarding it if you click it. This includes articles from various outlets, like the aforementioned 9to5Google article, discussingGoogle’s AI tools. AI Mode has been around in some form for a little while now, but today marks a noticeable change in how it has been implemented into Google search results.
Previously, Google’s AI Mode results appeared in an abridged form near the top of all searches. You could choose to expand these results and see some of the sources used to get them, or you could simply scroll past and look at your typical results. Now, Google has seemingly relegated AI Mode to its dedicated tab for certain inquiries, meaning thatmany typical Google searches will no longer include these generated results.
Our Take: Good Riddance To Google’s AI Search Results
AI Search Results Cluttered Typical Searches, Sometimes With Misinformation
Although Google’s AI results aren’t gone from every search,I have spent the past twenty or so minutes gleefully inputting random queries and being pleased to see that many of my results don’t include an AI Summary. Even those that do include them often put AI results further down the page, so I no longer have to simply scroll past it to get to the actually useful information.
I will sayGoogle’s AI tool has seemingly gotten a bit better over time at picking viable sources. Previously, I remember asking if it would be possible toplayDune: Awakeningoffline, and Google’s AI results told me it was, based only on a Reddit post of someone wishing this was a real feature. While the AI tool has since corrected this bit of misinformation, it is still typically less useful than just checking the original sources that turn up from the search.
I’m hoping this transition towards AI Mode being used more in its own tab and less in all search results continues. Likewise, I hopeGooglecontinues to refine its tool, so it only pulls relevant information from trusted sources. While I will likely continue toavoid AI toolsuntil they get much better than they are, and they work out any ethical concerns around stealing work, I can still celebrate today’s Doodle for seemingly signaling a change in how they will be implemented on Google.
