Google launched AI Overviews for its Google Search results last year. Although it has not been a complete success, the company is now looking to roll out the concept across YouTube.
What are AI Overviews?
Google introduced AI Overviews at its I/O annual developer conference this time last year. AI Overviews deliver a short synopsis of a piece of information that you are looking for.
Initially, Google was testing it as a response to Google Searches. So, if you searched for a specific news article, the AI Overview would give you a summary, listing all the major points. However, Google has had to deal with a few teething problems.
Cats on the moon
While Google’s AI Overviews were often helpful, some responses showed that the technology could get confused. Users began to post examples of inaccurate and bizarre responses generated by the new technology. An Associated Press reporter was told that astronauts met cats on the moon and played with them. The AI Overview also said, “Neil Armstrong said, ‘One small step for man’ because it was a cat’s step.’” Other gaffes included the advice to use glue to make sure the cheese sticks to your pizza, and the recommendation to eat rocks each day.
YouTube rollout
Despite its early problems, Google has continued to improve and develop the technology behind AI Overviews. As a result, the company is now looking to roll it out to YouTube. The company revealed this in a post on the YouTube Help forums headed “Testing New AI Overviews in Search Results.” The post went on to say, “We’re experimenting with a new video results carousel that appears after entering certain search queries. This new feature will use AI to highlight clips from videos that will be most helpful for your search query.”
How do I use AI Overviews?
On YouTube, Google is currently only testing AI Overviews by rolling the feature out to a small number of Premium members in the US. However, AI Overviews are being rolled out for Google Searches to users in the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In addition, you can opt into the “AI Overviews and more” experiment in Search Labs. Search Labs is a Google program that allows users to experiment with early-stage Google Search experiences and share feedback.
What we think
Google’s AI Overviews can be a useful and time-saving feature. However, it’s vital that they are accurate. Cats on the moon and glue on your pizza are amusing errors, but obviously false to everyone reading them. But inaccuracies in historical facts or statements by politicians might be more difficult to identify. Without proper verification, AI Overviews could unintentionally spread fake news by citing an inaccurate or heavily biased source. For the time being, it’s best to double-check the information in your Google Search AI Overviews before believing everything you read.
