Google’s AI Overviews: A Double-Edged Sword
Google has rolled out its new AI search feature called AI Overviews, which is likely to significantly impact how we use the internet. This development comes as other tech giants like OpenAI and Meta are also integrating AI into their products. At Google’s I/O event on May 20, the company claimed that users find AI Overviews so useful that they’re searching more often, with over a 10% increase in usage in major markets like the U.S. and India for certain queries.
The Utility and Limitations of AI Overviews
While AI Overviews have been praised for their usefulness in answering basic questions, they have shown limitations when dealing with more complex queries. Experts have raised concerns about privacy, biases, and inaccurate results. Publishers are also worried that AI Overviews might reduce click-throughs to their websites, potentially impacting their traffic and revenue.
Privacy Concerns with AI Overviews
One of the significant concerns with AI Overviews is privacy. Experts warn that user interactions with these overviews become part of their Google profile, which can include queries, generated answers, ratings, and metadata. Unless users disable Web & App Activity, this data can be stored on Google’s servers for up to 18 months. Moreover, AI Overviews can draw on a user’s full Google graph, including Maps check-ins, Gmail contents, and YouTube watch history, making future answers hyperpersonalized but also potentially revealing if data leaks or is subpoenaed.
Other Reasons to be Cautious
Aside from privacy concerns, users might find AI Overviews to be inaccurate, biased, or oversimplified. There have been instances where AI Overviews have suggested dangerous or misleading information, such as advising users to ‘glue pizza and eat rocks’ or suggesting weak passwords. This misinformation can have serious consequences, especially when it comes to sensitive topics like cybersecurity and health.
Impact on the Content Economy
AI Overviews also pose a significant threat to the content economy. By keeping users away from publishers’ websites, AI Overviews can undermine the advertising-based business model that supports most online content. Publishers are not compensated for the value extracted by Google, which can fundamentally alter the way content is created and disseminated online.
Google’s Response and User Options
Google maintains that AI Overviews are designed to be helpful and are subject to Search’s core quality and safety systems. The company has introduced measures like the ‘web’ filter, which allows users to view results without AI Overviews. Users can also use the NOSNIPPET meta tag and DATA-NOSNIPPET attribute to limit their content’s visibility in search results.
For users concerned about AI Overviews, there are workarounds to limit their exposure. Using a Google Chrome extension like Hide Google AI Overviews or appending ‘&udm=14’ to the Google search URL can revert to traditional link-based results. Users can also consider switching to more privacy-conscious search engines like DuckDuckGo, Kagi, or Brave Search.
As AI technology continues to evolve, it’s crucial for users to be aware of the implications of AI Overviews and take steps to protect their privacy and maintain control over their online experience.
