Google is banking on AI agents, smart glasses to defend its search crown
Google (GOOG, GOOGL) took its first steps to move beyond its traditional Search product during its I/O conference on Tuesday, debuting a host of new technologies that won't necessarily supplant the 10 blue links that dominate the world of search, but pave the way for a future where they're far less necessary to our everyday lives.
From its ChatGPT-style AI Mode built directly into Search and agentic AI feature that will help you shop for products to its renewed push into smart glasses, Google provided early hints at how it's working to evolve its services at a time when the company is under threat from both AI upstarts and government antitrust enforcers.
Google built its advertising empire on the back of its Search platform, and it's still its most important business. But companies like OpenAI (OPAI.PVT) and Perplexity (PEAI.PVT) have developed their own competing generative AI search products.
Google's efforts to fend off its newest foes came into stark relief during one of its recent antitrust hearings when Apple's (AAPL) senior vice president of services Eddy Cue revealed that searches made via that company's Safari browser fell for the first time ever in April. Google is the default search engine for Safari, a part of a $20-billion-a-year deal between the two companies that the Department of Justice is seeking to break up via its antitrust case.
Cue attributed the decline to customers opting to use generative AI services like ChatGPT, but Google pushed back in a statement saying that it continues to see overall query growth in Search.
But the report sent shockwaves through Wall Street, with shares falling as much as 7.5% when the news broke on May 7.
Google has been on its back foot since OpenAI and its partner Microsoft (MSFT) raised the specter of a potential threat to Google's search crown in late 2022. And now the company is pulling out its big guns to prove to its customers and Wall Street that it should remain the search king.
One of the biggest changes Google is making to its Search platform is the addition of what it calls AI Mode. Previously only available via the company's Labs testing program, AI Mode allows users to have a back-and-forth conversation with Google's AI, similar to the kind of interactions you'd have with ChatGPT, Bing, or Perplexity.
Available first to users in the US, AI Mode is Google's way of competing in the chatbot space without having to ditch its traditional search product. Rather than replacing Search, AI Mode is available as a tab in Search, similar to items like Images, News, and Videos.
AI Mode uses Google's frontier models and takes advantage of what the company calls its "query fan-out" technique. The method, Google says, breaks down your queries into smaller subtopics, running a number of separate searches at the same time. That, Google explains, allows AI Mode to perform deeper searches than traditional Search.
Google Search's AI Overviews are also getting an update, with some search results pulling information from AI Mode's latest AI models, providing a kind of bridge between the two search options.
Google says it's also bringing agentic AI functionality to AI Mode, allowing the software to do things like keep tabs on products you're shopping for and run through the entire checkout flow without you having to lift a finger until it's time to make the purchase.
AI Mode also adds a new try-on feature that lets you upload an image of yourself and see what clothes look like on you. It's clear based on those announcements alone that Google is putting a heavy emphasis on AI Mode, setting it up as a potential successor to the traditional Search product.
But the company isn't just focusing on improving its odds against newer AI firms; it's also working to combat the emerging threat of smart glasses. Google's biggest advertising rival, Meta, already offers its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in hopes that the eyewear will ring in a consumer tech revolution.
Meta is already building its Meta AI to perform search functions for users, and if smart glasses continue to improve and drive users to abandon their smartphones, or at least use them less in favor of searching on their eyewear, Google could find itself in serious trouble.
To that end, the company announced it's working with Samsung, Qualcomm (QCOM), Warby Parker (WRBY), and Gentle Monster to develop attractive smart glasses of their own.
There's no guarantee that smart glasses will become the go-to tech for consumers around the world like smartphones have throughout the years. But with the threats mounting to its Search business, Google can't afford to let the opportunity slip away.
Email Daniel Howley at dhowley@yahoofinance.com. Follow him on X/Twitter at @DanielHowley.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNET
33 minutes ago
- CNET
Death to Gmail? Google DeepMind CEO Wants AI to Solve This One Annoying Problem
Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis might have won a Nobel Prize for his work on AlphaFold 2, an AI model that can predict protein structures, but the solution to the problem he really wants to solve still evades him. The problem in question is infinitely easier to grasp and more relatable than Hassabis' work in the field of chemistry. "The thing I really want that we're working on is next-generation email," he said, speaking at SXSW London on Monday. "I would love to get rid of my email." Based on the crowd reaction, it was a popular sentiment in the room, where earlier that day, the former British Prime Minister Tony Blair admitted to sending only one email for the entire 10-year period he was in office. There is some irony to Hassabis' quest. The prize-winning scientist is responsible for developing some of the most complex and sophisticated AI models the world has ever seen, all in aid of working toward cures for diseases that are beyond anything we have access to today. His mission to render email (presumably Gmail?) – an annoyance of our own human invention – obsolete feels like small fry in comparison. But it also exposes the duality of Hassabis' responsibilities at Google. He is, and always has been, deeply committed to pursuing AI for the benefit of humankind. "My personal passion is applying [AI] to the frontiers of science and medicine," he said. At the same time he is beholden to the corporate interests of Google, which acquired DeepMind in 2014. Hassabis always imagined the development of AI to be more of a "scientific-led endeavor," spearheaded by a computer science equivalent to CERN, the famed particle physics lab in Switzerland. But the technology went a different way, becoming commercially viable much quicker than he anticipated. From there, he said, "the capitalist engine has done what it does best." Hassabis almost speaks as though he is separate from the "capitalist engine," but of course he is deeply embedded within it. DeepMind being owned by Google means that as well as pursuing his passion project of curing disease with AI – arguably the most noble use of AI – he must split his attention to ensure Google's AI products, from Gemini to Veo and everything else the company announced at I/O last month are up to scratch in a competitive market. In pursuit of AGI The competition is "ferocious" and it's a hefty work schedule for one man, who says he sleeps very little and doesn't expect to until "we get to AGI," or artificial general intelligence. Along with developing DeepMind's core AI models, and translating them into science, he continues to pursue the development of AGI, or AI that fully matches (or exceeds) human intellectual capabilities. "My feeling is that we're about five to 10 years away," he said. His vision for AGI is that it will unlock a world in which "we can cure many, many diseases – or maybe even all diseases," and "unlimited renewable energy." In some ways, the Google products are stopping off points on the way. One of the reasons DeepMind has built Veo 3, its latest video generation software, said Hassabis, is that AGI needs to have a physical understanding of the world around it. The world models built for Veo 3 are key to this understanding. In turn, these world models will be essential for a breakthrough in robotics, which Hassabis believes is due in the "next few years." While it's sometimes not clear where DeepMind's worthy mission ends and Google's commercial priorities kick in, it's clear that Hassabis is finding ways to make it work for him, and his long-term pursuit of an AGI breakthrough. In spite of the seismic shift he predicts this will cause, even he is skeptical of the hype around AI in the short term. "I mean, it couldn't be any more hyped," he said. "Therefore, it is a little bit overhyped."
Miami Herald
an hour ago
- Miami Herald
Popular chicken chain shares, massive expansion plan
Some may question if the chicken came before the egg or vice versa, but in this case, chicken is undoubtedly the correct answer. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Today's consumers clearly prefer chicken, and food chains are starting to catch on to this trend, investing in these efforts to prevent their rivals from leaving them behind. Related: Popular chicken chain brings back beloved menu item after 7 years A growing chicken craze has emerged in the food industry, with major players like Chick-fil-A, Raising Cane's, McDonald's (MCD) , and Restaurant Brands International's (QSR) Burger King and Popeyes focusing on launching new chicken-based products to dominate the market and boost sales. However, many weren't expecting an emerging chicken chain to quietly take over clients and successfully get them to consume its chicken rather than sticking with the decades-old giants. TheFounded in a California parking lot in 2017 by a small group of friends, Dave's Hot Chicken is an American fast-casual restaurant popular for its Nashville-style hot chicken. This chicken chain quickly gained popularity among consumers. In only eight years, it has grown to over 270 locations across the U.S., Canada, the UK, and the Middle East, generating around $1 billion in annual sales. Related: Popular fast-food burger chain to open first store in new market Rumors began swirling in February that Dave's Hot Chicken was in talks with Roark Capital to be acquired for around $1 billion, as The Wall Street Journal reported. This business move didn't seem far-fetched since it would align with Dave's Hot Chicken's ambitious expansion plan to reach over 400 restaurants worldwide by the end of 2025. After a few months of speculation, it was revealed that Roark Capital had sealed a $1 billion deal with Dave's Hot Chicken to acquire a majority stake in the chicken chain. Neither party has publicly disclosed financial details about the deal. However, Dave's Hot Chicken's leadership team will continue operating the brand. More Food News: McDonald's brings back unexpected breakfast item after 6 yearsWalmart makes deal to open popular food chain in storesStarbucks makes major change in rewards program loyal fans will hate This deal will allow Dave's Hot Chicken to expand its footprint into more nontraditional domestic units, such as airports, malls, and campuses, with the help of franchisees. It will also give it the boost it needs to reach new markets, like Europe and Asia, which it sees great potential in and has wanted to do since opening its first location in the UK last year. Roark Capital is a major player in the food industry and owns popular brands and companies like Arby's, Culver's, Sonic, Dunkin', and Subway. This billionaire deal aims to accelerate Dave's Hot Chicken's growth, and with Roark Capital's extensive portfolio, the chicken chain looks to be in good hands. Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Digital Trends
an hour ago
- Digital Trends
Apple's most underrated app could change soon, and you're going to love it
Apple's shortcuts app is a power user's dream. I think it's one of the most underrated features you can find on an iPhone, and even Macs. In case you haven't used it yet, it allows you to perform a multi-step task in one go, or even trigger certain actions automatically. One of my favorite shortcuts is instantly generating a QR code of a Wi-Fi network, instead of narrating a complex password. I've got another one that automatically deletes screenshots after a 30-day span. There are a few in my library that trigger Do Not Disturb mode for a certain time slot, turn any webpage into a PDF, even snap Mac windows, and activate my smart devices when I reach home. Recommended Videos All that sounds convenient, but creating those shortcuts isn't a cakewalk. The UI flow and action presets can overwhelm tech-savvy users when it comes to creating their own automations. Apple may have a user-friendly solution, thanks to AI, and you just might get it this year. Apple has the foundation ready According to Bloomberg, Apple is preparing an upgraded version of the Shortcuts app that will put AI into the mix. 'The new version will let consumers create those actions using Apple Intelligence models,' says the report. The AI models could be Apple's own, which means they are better suited for integration with system tools and apps than a third-party AI model. Take, for example, the Siri-ChatGPT integration. OpenAI's chatbot can handle a wide range of tasks that Siri can't accomplish, but ChatGPT isn't able to interact with other apps and system tools on your iPhone. That means it can't assist you with making cross-app Shortcuts either. At WWDC 2025, Apple is rumored to reveal its own AI models and open them to app developers, as well. The idea is to let developers natively integrate AI-driven features in their apps without having to worry about security concerns. Microsoft is already using in-house AI models for a wide range of Copilot experiences on Windows PCs. Moreover, the company also offers its Phi family of open AI models to developers for building app experiences. Apple just needs to follow in Microsoft's footsteps. With developers adopting Apple's AI foundations and the company expanding it to the Shortcuts app, it would be much easier to create multi-step workflows easily. How so? Well, just look at Gemini on Android phones. Shortcuts needs an AI makeover Imagine just narrating a workflow to Siri, and it's turned into a shortcut. That's broadly what AI tools are already capable of, but instead of creating a rule for the future, they just execute the task at hand immediately. With AI in Shortcuts, things should go like: 'Hey Siri, create a shortcut that automatically replies to all messages I get on weekends regarding my unavailability, and tell them to reach me again on Monday. Trigger the action when I say the words I'm out.' With natural language processing on AI models, that's feasible. Look no further than how Gemini works on Android devices, especially those with on-device Gemini Nano processing. With a voice command, Gemini can dip into your workspace data and get work done across Gmail, Docs, and more connected apps. It can even handle workflows across third-party apps such as WhatsApp and Spotify. The list keeps on growing, and as capabilities like Project Mariner and Astra are rolled out through Gemini Live, newer possibilities will open. With a revamped Shortcuts app, Apple just needs to get the voice processing right and convert the prompts into actionable commands. Apple's partner, OpenAI, already offers a feature called Operator that can autonomously handle tasks on the web. Creating a chain of commands across mobile apps that are running locally should be easier and less risky compared to browsing websites. With ChatGPT's language chops already baked at the heart of Apple Intelligence, I won't be surprised if the next-gen Shortcuts app exploits it to the fullest. Oh hey, here's a sample Talking about ChatGPT and its integration with iOS, there's already an open-source project out there that can give a rough idea of how voice commands turn into actions on an iPhone. Rounak Jain, an iOS engineer at OpenAI, has created an AI agent that transforms audio prompts into actions on an iPhone. 🚨🤖 Today, I'm launching an AI agent that gets things done across iPhone apps. It's powered by OpenAI GPT 4.1 and is open source. Try it out! — Rounak Jain (@r0unak) June 1, 2025 Jain says the demo video is built atop OpenAI's GPT-4.1 AI model, and it can get work done across multiple apps with a single voice command. For example, users can control the flashlight after sliding down the control center, click and send a picture to one of their contacts, or text travel details and book a cab. Jain's demo is a clear sign that integrating an AI model at the system level, or having it perform tasks across apps, is feasible. A similar pipeline can be integrated to turn those voice commands into shortcuts, instead of executing them immediately. I am just hoping that when Apple implements AI within Shortcuts and lets users create their own routines with natural language commands, it offers a flow where users have the flexibility to modify them at will. I believe the best approach would be to show users the chain of commands and let them make adjustments before the prompt is turned into a shortcut.
