Google launches AI Mode in the UK amid ‘major shift' in online search
Hailed as its most 'powerful AI search to date', the US tech giant is launching AI Mode in Google Search across the UK this week, allowing users to ask lengthy and complicated questions, as well as follow-ups.
AI Mode will start to appear as a tab on the Google Search results page and in the Google app for Android and Apple smartphones from Tuesday, and will be available to all UK users over the next few days.
The function was launched in the US at the end of May, followed by India earlier in July, and comes in addition to Google's AI Overview, which is now built into its searches.
Hema Budaraju, Google's vice president of product management for search, told the PA news agency it heralds a 'major shift' in the way people are using online searches, with questions now becoming longer and more complex.
In a blog announcing the launch, Ms Budaraju said: 'AI Mode is a new, intuitive way to address your most complex, multi-part questions and follow-ups, and satisfy your curiosity in a richer way.'
She added: 'AI Mode is particularly helpful for exploratory questions and for more complicated tasks like comparing products, planning a trip or understanding complex how-tos.
'In fact, we've found that early users of AI Mode are asking questions that are two or three times the length of traditional search queries.'
The tool is powered by Google's latest AI model, Gemini 2.5, and allows users to ask nuanced questions that would have previously required multiple searches.
The new search works by breaking down questions into sub-topics and sending out a range of queries on the behalf of users.
It will also allow so-called multimodal searches, either by text, voice or pictures.
Ms Budaraju said it should make it possible for people to 'find information that was previously much harder to find'.
'This is the beginning of a major shift,' she told PA.
Google said it was improving factuality, but that where AI Mode is not confident in the answer, it will instead provide a set of web search results.
'And as with any early-stage AI product, we won't always get it right, but we are committed to continuous improvement,' Ms Budaraju said.
Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
11 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Thousands snap up Amazon's 'incredible' £32 earbuds 'better than Apple Airpods'
"These sound incredible... they fit snuggly in the ears and are quite comfortable. The sound is incredible for the price." Many of us enjoy listening to music, podcasts, or audiobooks when on the go. Whether that's going out for a stroll, commuting to the office, or pumping iron at the gym, having good audio is a must. Earbuds have become increasingly popular as they allow you to listen to whatever you want without having to faff about with wires. We've found a highly-rated pair at a significant discount that could transform your listening experience. The EarFun Wireless Earbuds on Amazon are currently enjoying a 36 per cent price slash. Retailing at £49.99, you can now snap up these "incredible" products for just £31.99. Crowned best earbuds at the What Hi-Fi Awards, they have been described as "a great all-rounder". They are waterproof and offer "crystal clear" sound for calls and audio, and users can use the EarFun app to customise their buds. Shoppers say they fit "snugly" in the ear - and they offer four different sizes of silicone tips for extra comfort and passive noise blocking. Users were delighted that they stuck in the ear much better than Apple's AirPods too. The EarFun Wireless Earbuds ' on-the-go controls allow users to adjust volume and answer calls by simply touching the earbuds, and they boast up to 35 hours of playtime thanks to the charging case. A quick 10-minute charge offers two hours of playtime. For those looking elsewhere, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 are currently down £40 to £189 on Argos, where they boast a 4.8-star rating from over 1,400 reviews. Shoppers looking for a more budget-friendly option can get Cillso's Wireless Earbuds in four different colours on Amazon for £19.99, after a whopping £110 price cut. Back to the EarFun Wireless Earbuds, they boast a 4.3 rating on Amazon after almost 5,000 five-star reviews. Their popularity is clear with over 1,000 bought in the last month. One satisfied customer said: "These sound incredible! Had them for a few weeks now and I'm extremely happy with them. "They fit snugly in the ears - and include different size ear plastics for larger or smaller ears - and are quite comfortable. Sometimes I forget they're in my ears! "The sound is incredible for the price. Deep basses and clear sounds. I'm very impressed by these little dudes. Overall, they're better than AirPods! Highly, highly recommend." Another user compared them to the big brand rival, saying: "I was really surprised to get that sound quality for the price. People who use Apple AirPods are wasting their money because the quality is the same. "Fits my ear pretty well, the controls are good, pairing is simple. This is an honest review after many months of everyday use - I haven't received any bonuses for writing that review, so just trust me." And a third customer wrote: "Wow, these are good. Sound and build quality is fantastic, I love these. I've honestly tried my daughter's Apple Airpods - I feel these are comparable, for a fracture of the price." However, not everyone was as enthused. A three-star reviewer said: "These are okay but they've definitely changed/reduced the functionality." A similar review read: "The earplugs work well when first purchased but eventually one of the earbuds stopped charging and then working. Eventually, the other side starts with the same issues and once again the earplugs will fail." But other people were delighted with their purchase. One satisfied customer said: "These are great value. I bought a couple of pairs of these a while ago for my kids as a budget alternative to Apple AirPods. "I borrowed my son's and I was so impressed by the sound quality I bought myself a pair too. They fit my ears far better than AirPods and don't fall out at all - which AirPods seem to do all the time (especially when I'm running) - and because of how well they fit, these block out external sound far better (they're not noise cancelling, but the rubber ear tips do a great job of creating a seal in your ear to block out external sound)." And someone else wrote: " I recently purchased the EAR FUN buds as a gift for my wife, and I must say, they are nothing less than any premium earbuds in terms of sound quality and overall performance. "The audio is crystal clear, with deep bass and balanced tones, making music and calls an absolute fit is perfect—snug yet comfortable, ensuring they stay in place even during movement."
Powys County Times
2 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Scottish space company gets launch licence but is still searching for a pad
A Scottish space company is celebrating a 'huge milestone' after it was granted a launch operator licence for one of its rockets. However, Skyrora is still searching for a pad to blast off from, with none available this year at least. The company, which has a factory in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, have been granted a launch licence for its suborbital rocket, Skylark. Later, the company hopes to use a much larger rocket called XL to deliver satellites into orbit. The licence enables Skyrora to launch from the UK's licensed 'vertical launch' spaceport: SaxaVord on the northernmost point of the Shetland Islands. But there are not currently any pads free there. Volodymyr Levykin spoke to the PA news agency just before the launch licence was announced by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). He said Skylark, a single-stage rocket measuring almost 12 metres long, would go 'up and down' when it launches – taking a 50 kilo payload to an altitude of about 500 kilometres (310 miles). If successful, this will mean it crosses the boundary into space but it will not deliver a satellite into orbit. Mr Levykin said of the licence: 'This is a huge milestone for us because at least half of the work, maybe 70% has been done. Looking forward to actually launching. 'The whole application was based on SaxaVord in Shetland Isles as a launch location, however, there are some room for adjustments and flexibility.' Mr Levykin said SaxaVord 'is not available any more for us to launch, this year at least'. Earlier this year, another space company called Orbex announced it would move its launch operation to SaxaVord from the under-construction Sutherland Spaceport on Scotland's north coast. Mr Levykin said his company is now considering other options, including potentially using the Sutherland site vacated by Orbex. He said: 'At the moment we're trying to figure out – what is the legal structure, what is owned, what is not owned? 'What is the capacity of the current management, the jurisdiction? 'But you take this apart – practically, it's absolutely do-able because we have the mobile launch concept.' He said this would allow Skyrora to launch its rocket in a variety of locations around Europe with just a few days of preparation. In October 2022, the company attempted to launch Skylark from Iceland, but a software problem led to it falling into the sea just after lift-off. Ultimately, Skyrora wants to use its 23-metre XL rocket to launch about eight times a year, to capitalise on the burgeoning global demand for small satellite launches. They are aiming to do the initial test-firing of this rocket's first stage this year, though the location has not yet been revealed. It would involve nine engines firing at the same time. Rob Bishton, chief executive of the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: 'Granting a home-grown company, Skyrora, its launch licence is a major milestone for our space sector and our nation. 'Our work as the UK's space regulator is enabling the burgeoning launch industry to safely grow, bringing new jobs and investment with it.' Richard Lochhead, the Scottish Government's business minister, said: 'Securing the UK's first launch operator licence is a landmark moment in Skyrora's plans to become the first company in the UK to build and launch a rocket into space.' UK aviation and space minister Mike Kane said: 'I am thrilled we've reached this important milestone in the UK space sector, and I congratulate Skyrora for being the first UK company to receive a rocket launch licence.' Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said: 'This launch licence isn't just one giant leap for Skyrora – it's a massive boost to the whole of Scotland and the wider UK's space sector. 'Becoming the first British company to manufacture and send a rocket into space from the UK will be a hugely significant moment.' UK space minister Sir Chris Bryant said: 'The award of the first-ever licence to a UK firm to launch satellites from British soil is a landmark moment for our burgeoning space sector – as well as a clear statement of intent. 'Demand for satellites in Europe alone is expected to be worth 50 billion US dollars (£37 billion) by 2033 and having the homegrown capacity to launch satellites stands to pull lucrative contracts and investment into the UK. 'But this isn't all just jam tomorrow. This is an industry that is creating jobs and driving growth right across the UK right now, including Scotland where Skyrora is based and from where their rockets will launch. 'As part of our modern industrial strategy, we are determined to unleash the space industry's full economic potential – rocket-boosting the plan for change.'
South Wales Guardian
3 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Scottish space company gets launch licence but is still searching for a pad
However, Skyrora is still searching for a pad to blast off from, with none available this year at least. The company, which has a factory in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, have been granted a launch licence for its suborbital rocket, Skylark. Later, the company hopes to use a much larger rocket called XL to deliver satellites into orbit. The licence enables Skyrora to launch from the UK's licensed 'vertical launch' spaceport: SaxaVord on the northernmost point of the Shetland Islands. But there are not currently any pads free there. Volodymyr Levykin spoke to the PA news agency just before the launch licence was announced by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). He said Skylark, a single-stage rocket measuring almost 12 metres long, would go 'up and down' when it launches – taking a 50 kilo payload to an altitude of about 500 kilometres (310 miles). If successful, this will mean it crosses the boundary into space but it will not deliver a satellite into orbit. Mr Levykin said of the licence: 'This is a huge milestone for us because at least half of the work, maybe 70% has been done. Looking forward to actually launching. 'The whole application was based on SaxaVord in Shetland Isles as a launch location, however, there are some room for adjustments and flexibility.' Mr Levykin said SaxaVord 'is not available any more for us to launch, this year at least'. Earlier this year, another space company called Orbex announced it would move its launch operation to SaxaVord from the under-construction Sutherland Spaceport on Scotland's north coast. Mr Levykin said his company is now considering other options, including potentially using the Sutherland site vacated by Orbex. He said: 'At the moment we're trying to figure out – what is the legal structure, what is owned, what is not owned? 'What is the capacity of the current management, the jurisdiction? 'But you take this apart – practically, it's absolutely do-able because we have the mobile launch concept.' He said this would allow Skyrora to launch its rocket in a variety of locations around Europe with just a few days of preparation. In October 2022, the company attempted to launch Skylark from Iceland, but a software problem led to it falling into the sea just after lift-off. Ultimately, Skyrora wants to use its 23-metre XL rocket to launch about eight times a year, to capitalise on the burgeoning global demand for small satellite launches. They are aiming to do the initial test-firing of this rocket's first stage this year, though the location has not yet been revealed. It would involve nine engines firing at the same time. Rob Bishton, chief executive of the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: 'Granting a home-grown company, Skyrora, its launch licence is a major milestone for our space sector and our nation. 'Our work as the UK's space regulator is enabling the burgeoning launch industry to safely grow, bringing new jobs and investment with it.' Richard Lochhead, the Scottish Government's business minister, said: 'Securing the UK's first launch operator licence is a landmark moment in Skyrora's plans to become the first company in the UK to build and launch a rocket into space.' UK aviation and space minister Mike Kane said: 'I am thrilled we've reached this important milestone in the UK space sector, and I congratulate Skyrora for being the first UK company to receive a rocket launch licence.' Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said: 'This launch licence isn't just one giant leap for Skyrora – it's a massive boost to the whole of Scotland and the wider UK's space sector. 'Becoming the first British company to manufacture and send a rocket into space from the UK will be a hugely significant moment.' UK space minister Sir Chris Bryant said: 'The award of the first-ever licence to a UK firm to launch satellites from British soil is a landmark moment for our burgeoning space sector – as well as a clear statement of intent. 'Demand for satellites in Europe alone is expected to be worth 50 billion US dollars (£37 billion) by 2033 and having the homegrown capacity to launch satellites stands to pull lucrative contracts and investment into the UK. 'But this isn't all just jam tomorrow. This is an industry that is creating jobs and driving growth right across the UK right now, including Scotland where Skyrora is based and from where their rockets will launch. 'As part of our modern industrial strategy, we are determined to unleash the space industry's full economic potential – rocket-boosting the plan for change.'
