Google is using AI to revamp search, and its CEO says there’s room for improvement.
Sundar Pichai was shown the results of a Google search query for “best Chromebooks” during an appearance on his podcast “Decoder with Nilay Patel” on Tuesday.
As moderator Patel scrolled through the results in front of Pichai, it showed how far Google has come from a simple search engine, and how the company is still fine-tuning the role AI plays.
Google’s AI Overview says the best option is the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714. Below, the initial organic search results from Reddit showed a different response.
When asked if he thought a particular search experience was good, Pichai had left a note.
“I think you’re probably more biased than you need to be about the specific query you gave me,” Pichai said.
Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Pichai’s observation that the AI summary for this particular query shows “room for improvement” comes as Google takes its AI push a step further by incorporating elements of AI modes and new features into search.
These include the ability to ask follow-up questions and “information agents” that can automatically perform searches for users. This feature is expected to be rolled out in the summer.
Pichai said the opinion appears biased because the Chromebook’s queries “may” have been personalized to Patel’s search needs.
“You may be testing in a way that you personalize on your own. It’s your fault that your queries may not be exactly representative,” Pichai told Patel.
Google’s sweeping changes to search have been criticized by some who don’t want the engine to be more personalized. Others include Business Insider’s Katie Notopoulos. states that this portends the potential death of the Internet, as website traffic may decline further.
It also comes at a time of growing backlash against AI, with alumni booing tech company CEOs during speeches and protests about data centers.
Pichai said in the podcast episode that since launching the feature, he has added more website links to the AI Overview.
“Through it all, we’re working very hard to both meet user expectations and capture user expectations and connect users to what’s on the web,” Pichai said.