Google has begun to roll out its AI Mode in Spain, an update that transforms the traditional way of searching for information on the Internet. Once we have access to this mode, we can make all types of queries through natural language and the search engine will offer us complex and elaborate answers on any topic through its AI. The operation is similar to the summaries that Google already offers when we make a query, only this mode transfers that entire experience to your search engine. We tell you all the details.
What exactly is AI Mode. This is the most advanced search experience Google has launched to date, powered by its Gemini models. Just like explains the company in its press release, appears as a new button on the results page and in the apps for Android and iOS. Unlike traditional search that displays a list of links, AI Mode generates direct and detailed answers to queries, although for now it remains optional, as the user must press the button to activate it. To test it, you can use this linkalthough you may not have it enabled yet and may have to wait a while.
Why the way you search changes. According to Google, this tool is designed for exploratory questions without a single, direct answer. In the United States, where it was launched in March (and by then we were able to try it), Google claims that users ask questions two or three times longer than in conventional searches. The company gives the example of doing the following search: “I want to understand the different methods of brewing coffee. Make a table comparing the differences in flavor, ease of use, and equipment needed.” Once the answer is obtained, we can continue the conversation, such as: “What is the ideal grain thickness for each method?” In this way, the system maintains the context of the conversation and allows you to delve deeper as you go.
The operation is very similar to what many AI models already offer, such as ChatGPT internet search or dedicated AI search engines like Perplexity. This is the answer to all those tools of a Google that refuses to lose the leadership of what it was known for.
How it works inside. As the company claims, AI Mode uses a query decomposition technique: it divides the question into several subtopics and launches multiple simultaneous searches on the web. This, according to Google, allows you to access more specialized and relevant content than with a traditional search. The results are presented with small buttons at the end of each paragraph that link to the web pages used to generate the answer.
In our tests a few months ago we were already able explore in detail the operation of this system, a search mode that was inevitable to see given the proliferation of more and more tools with generative AI technology. The results were quite promising and the system offered a great level of richness in its responses. AI Mode is an instant way to get complex answers while the system crawls the entire web to deliver them to you.
Multimodality as an advantage. One of the notable features is that it supports different input formats: text, voice and images. Users can, for example, take a photo of a menu with their mobile phone and ask about anything, or use the microphone for voice queries. This versatility is typical of models such as Geminisince from its dedicated app we can also opt for this type of responses through all types of inputs. The real novelty here is that the experience that Gemini gives us is transferred to Google’s main website, something that represents how committed the company is to offering AI experiences to its users.
The global deployment. The launch includes 36 new languages, including Spanish, and nearly 50 new countries and territories, reaching more than 200 in total. Its arrival in Europe is especially significant, since Regulation around AI is much stricter than in the United States. The good news is that the service is free and will be progressively activated for all Spanish users in the coming days.
An inevitable debate. This launch is not without controversy. Some media outlets in countries where it is already available have reported traffic drops of between 20% and 60%. The falls too have been important even with the arrival of Google’s AI summaries. And if the AI directly answers the user’s question, why visit the original website?
Obviously, from Xataka we will tell you that nothing has more value than what is processed, thought and written by a human. However, Google argues that clicks from AI Mode are of higher quality because “users then spend more time on the pages they visit”, although the truth is that it is not a very hopeful answer for media that depend on a certain volume of visits to generate income. The company has also not yet proposed financial compensation for the pages it uses as a source of its responses.
What’s coming now? Google assures that it will continue improving the system, recognizing that “we will not always get it right” as it is an AI product in its initial phase. Now we just need to know the reaction of the global public and know if this really is the definitive way to search on the web. We will also be aware of the impact this has on traffic, which has already left its mark since its initial test in March.
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