Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE), initially only available to select users, is set to become more widely accessible. Within just six months of its debut at I/O 2023, Google announced that SGE will be expanding to Search Labs users in 120 countries and territories, with support for four additional languages and several new features.
After the fast rollout of the Bard chatbot in March, Google has taken a more measured approach in distributing its AI search assistant. The company started with English language searches in the US in May, then expanded to English-language users in India and Japan in August, and finally to teen users in September. Now, users from Brazil to Bhutan can give the feature a try. In addition to English, SGE now supports Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, and Indonesian, in addition to the existing English, Hindi, and Japanese.
One of the new features of SGE is an improved follow-up function that allows users to ask additional questions directly on the search results page. This feature enables users to drill down on a subject without leaving the results page or needing to type out their queries. Google plans to restrict ads to specific areas of the page to avoid confusion between ads and generated content. These follow-up features are initially for English language users in the US, but will likely expand as Google continues to iterate the technology.
SGE will also help clarify ambiguous translation terms. For instance, when translating “Is there a tie?” into Spanish, the output, gender, and speaker’s intention will change depending on whether it refers to a tie as in a draw between two competitors or a tie that is worn around the neck. The new feature will automatically recognize such words and highlight them for users to click on, allowing them to select the correct translation. This feature will first be available to US users for English-to-Spanish translations.
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Additionally, Google plans to expand interactive definitions into coding and health-related searches in addition to educational topics like science, history, and economics. This update is expected to arrive within the next month, initially for English language users in the US before expanding to more territories in the coming months.
With these expansions and new features, SGE is set to enhance the search experience for users across the globe, providing more language support, improved follow-up functions, and clarifications for ambiguous translations. As Google continues to refine its technology, SGE is expected to become a valuable tool for users in their search and conversational experiences.
