In this fascinating digital world in which we depend more on it every day, ordinary users have the most difficult part, paying, and in these times there is almost no tool that is free on the Internet and to top it off Now Google is exploring the possibility of offering a “premium” search service with AI, according to a Financial Times article from April 2, 2024.
Well, okay, we still won’t have to pay to do common Google searches, we still have free email and a free chat service. The thing is, when we want to stand out in this increasingly technological world, tools are required to better respond to demand and there, necessarily, you have to pay.
According to Google, this service would offer more personalized and complete results, using Google’s artificial intelligence technology to better understand user needs.
The “premium” search service is expected to be a subscription, although the price has not yet been confirmed, we are going to have to add one more item to payments in Google Documents, Google Workspace, Google One and other services, if we want to be on the play.
Google’s traditional search engine would remain free, with ads displayed next to results.
It is important to note that this is in the exploration phase and nothing is definitive yet. Google has not made any official announcement about the “premium” AI search service. fortunately.
Fear of leakage of advertising revenue: Google remains cautious about AI
Caution has been the dominant tone at Google since the emergence of ChatGPT on the market. This is not surprising, since the current advertising model works perfectly for the company, and the transition to an AI search engine creates uncertainty about how to integrate advertising effectively.
The main reason for this caution lies in the nature of the results offered by an AI search engine. These are usually clear, complete and, in many cases, resolve the user’s query without having to visit other web pages. This translates into fewer clicks for content providers, who in turn depend on advertising to survive. Furthermore, integrating ads into this type of search does not seem to be an easy task.
Microsoft, on the other hand, has demonstrated a more open attitude toward experimenting with AI in the search space. Its new Copilot (formerly Bing Chat) has become a viable alternative to the traditional search engine, Bing, without the company seeming to worry about advertising revenue in its free version. Although there is a paid version, Copilot Pro, which offers more advanced functions, it does not present advertising in the chatbot texts and maintains the link to the sources of information, allowing the user to visit them if they wish.
The challenge for Google is huge. Finding a balance between the user experience offered by an AI search engine and the need to maintain a profitable business model will be crucial for its future. Microsoft’s strategy, with Copilot at the helm, could be a valuable lesson for Google in this new scenario.
By: Nestor Castilo, ForAllTechNews Director