Google has unveiled a new experimental artificial intelligence (AI) feature for its Search platform. On Thursday, the tech company, headquartered in Mountain View, announced the introduction of Web Guide, a filter designed to categorize information and group related URLs on the search results page, enhancing users’ ability to explore various topics. Users must opt in to access this feature, meaning it will not be visible unless they actively choose to sign up for it. Furthermore, it appears to be rolling out in select locations only.
Google Search Implements Web Guide for Improved Information Display
In a blog post, Google elaborated on this new feature, noting its availability through Search Labs. Users can enable it by selecting the Web Guide option. Although a report from TechCrunch mentioned the feature’s availability, members of the Gadgets 360 team reported not being able to locate it. This is not unexpected, considering new features from Search Labs generally debut in the US before being extended to other countries.
Web Guide on Google Search
Photo Credit: Google
Users who can access the feature can opt in and will notice an added filter on the Google Search results page. The “Web” filter appears to the right of the “All” option. According to the blog post, Web Guide organizes search results “intelligently,” streamlining the process of locating relevant web pages and information.
This feature simplifies complex search queries by generating key points likely of interest to the user, subsequently categorizing the different URLs based on these highlights. Each category includes a summary, which is presumably derived from the associated web pages.
Powered by a specialized version of Gemini, Web Guide aims to enhance the understanding of both search queries and web content. It employs a method known as the “query fan-out technique,” similar to that used in AI Mode, enabling the AI to conduct multiple related searches simultaneously to find the most pertinent results.
The new Web Guide feature will be activated when users click on the Web tab in Search, while the All tab will continue to display conventional results alongside AI Overviews. Google has indicated that this format may eventually be incorporated into the All tab, should they determine it would provide greater utility to users.
