Google Expands AI Overview Feature to Six More Countries

Google has announced the expansion of its AI Overview feature, initially launched in the United States in May 2024, to six new countries: the United Kingdom, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Japan, and Mexico. The rollout will take place over several weeks, with local language support for each market, including Hindi, Japanese, and Portuguese. AI Overview is designed to provide AI-generated summaries for search queries, appearing at the top of search results before traditional links. The feature aims to help users quickly find relevant information and access high-quality content sources.

Early Challenges and Improvements

Since its introduction in the U.S., AI Overview has received mixed reactions. While many users have praised the feature for simplifying complex topics and providing in-depth answers, its initial launch was marred by instances of inaccurate information. Some of these errors went viral on social media, such as an AI-generated answer claiming that non-toxic glue could be added to pizza sauce for “tackiness” and another stating that former U.S. President Andrew Johnson earned 14 degrees between 1947 and 2012—despite his death in 1875. In response to these issues, Google updated the product in May, adding restrictions on which queries trigger AI answers and limiting the use of user-generated content, such as posts from Reddit, to prevent such errors.

Refining the User Experience

Despite these early challenges, Google has continued to develop and refine AI Overview. According to Hema Budaraju, Senior Director of Product at Google, users engaging with AI Overviews have reported higher satisfaction levels, particularly when searching for complex topics in areas like education and health. Budaraju emphasized that Google has integrated AI Overviews with its core web ranking systems to ensure that AI-generated content is backed by reliable, high-quality sources. In addition, the company has implemented safety systems to prevent harmful or inappropriate content from appearing in AI summaries.

Tailoring to Local Needs

The expansion to new markets reflects Google’s broader goal of enhancing user experience by tailoring its AI-powered features to local needs. In India, for example, AI Overviews will be available in both English and Hindi, and a new language toggle button will allow users to switch between the two languages easily. Indian users will also have access to a Text-To-Speech feature, enabling them to listen to search responses by tapping a “Listen” button.

Enhanced Design and Publisher Support

As part of the ongoing rollout, Google is introducing new design elements to make AI Overviews more user-friendly. On desktop searches, a right-hand-side panel will display links to external websites, making it easier for users to access supporting content. On mobile devices, these links will appear as site icons in the upper right corner of the AI Overview. Google is also testing a feature that integrates hyperlinks directly into the AI Overview text, providing users with more seamless access to the sources of information.

Driving Traffic to Publishers

In response to concerns from publishers that AI-generated content could divert traffic away from their sites, Google has stated that AI Overviews are actually driving higher engagement and traffic to publisher websites. According to internal testing, users who interact with AI Overviews are more likely to explore external sources, spend more time on the websites they visit, and search for more specific, complex topics.

New Features in Development

Google is also experimenting with two additional features to enhance the AI Overview experience. The first is a “Save” button that allows users to bookmark AI Overviews for future reference, including any links within the summary. The second feature offers an option to simplify the language used in AI Overviews, making the information more accessible to a wider range of users.

With this expansion, Google continues to refine its AI capabilities, aiming to make search more intuitive and user-centric while maintaining a balance between AI-generated summaries and traditional content from publishers.