Google Search’s new ‘AI Mode’ lets users ask complex, multi-part questions

[megri]

Google has introduced a new experimental feature called AI Mode in its search engine, designed to handle complex, multi-part questions and allow users to ask follow-up questions to delve deeper into a topic. This feature is powered by a custom version of Gemini 2.0, a generative AI technology that enables more advanced reasoning and exploration capabilities. AI Mode is initially available to Google One AI Premium subscribers and can be accessed through Google Labs.
Key Features of AI Mode:

• Complex Queries: Users can ask multi-part questions that require detailed comparisons or further exploration.
• Follow-up Questions: The feature supports asking follow-up questions to continue the conversation.
• Multimodal Interaction: Users can interact via text, voice, or images.
• Comprehensive Responses: AI Mode synthesizes information from multiple sources to provide detailed answers.

Updates to Robots Meta Tag Documentation:


Google has updated its robots meta tag documentation to include controls for AI Mode. This allows website owners to manage how their content appears in AI-powered search features, including AI Overviews and AI Mode. Key updates include:

• Nosnippet Directive: Prevents content from being used in AI-generated summaries.
• Max-Snippet Controls: Limits the amount of content displayed in search results, encouraging users to visit the original site for more information

Impact on Search Experience:


AI Mode aims to enhance the search experience by providing more nuanced and detailed responses, potentially reducing the need for multiple searches. However, it also raises concerns about content usage and traffic for publishers, which can be managed using the updated meta tags