Google has broadened access to its AI-powered search feature, AI Overviews, following refinements made in response to earlier issues with the tool. Initially available in the U.S. and U.K., AI Overviews—previously known as the Search Generative Experience—is now being rolled out to users in India, Japan, Indonesia, Mexico, and Brazil. Each regional version of the feature is designed to provide outputs in the user's local language.
AI Overviews utilizes Google’s Gemini model to generate natural-sounding responses to search queries. The tool has seen increased engagement, particularly among younger users aged 18 to 24, since its launch. Hema Budaraju, Google’s senior director for product management on search, noted that users looking for assistance with complex topics are finding the feature especially useful and are returning to it more frequently.
However, AI Overviews faced significant criticism earlier in the year when it produced a series of bizarre and inaccurate responses, such as recommending eating rocks for their mineral content. These missteps, some of which gained attention on social media platforms like Reddit, prompted Google to make extensive updates to improve the tool's performance and reliability.
Among the new enhancements is a feature that makes it easier for users to explore relevant websites. This option, available on both desktop and mobile, presents relevant sites in a dedicated area to the right of the search results page, simplifying the process of accessing additional information.
As Google continues to refine AI Overviews, the expansion into new markets marks a significant step in the company’s efforts to provide a more engaging and accurate search experience powered by artificial intelligence.
