For its core search business model, Google is considering adding paid “premium” features that creative AI drives.
The company’s leading search engine has been free and backed by ads since the beginning, so this would be the first time they charge for improvements.
Al-powered search tech giant seeks alternatives
Google One and Workspace may get AI-powered search features. Management has not set a launch schedule or cost despite engineers building these AI technologies.
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While Google’s online search would remain free and ad-supported, members would get AI-generated results and capabilities. With this barrier, Google is trying to embrace the AI revolution while safeguarding its $175 billion search advertising business.
When OpenAI’s ChatGPT robot became popular in late 2022, Google immediately felt compelled to use its own AI technologies. The fact that ChatGPT can give complete answers to questions is a threat to the usefulness and advertising model of regular search engine results pages.
In response, Google started trying an “AI-powered Search Generative Experience” in 2022, giving some users more detailed AI-generated answer snippets, ads, and web links. However, these expensive and resource-intensive AI features have not yet been widely released.
According to analysts, if Google’s AI can fully answer questions without sending people to other websites, it could hurt the advertising income from visiting websites. Furthermore, publishers are concerned that they may lose visitors if AI takes content from their websites.
While Microsoft’s addition of ChatGPT to Bing hasn’t done much to increase its small part of the search market, Google is trying to be savvy about AI’s threats and possibilities. The business says it will keep adding AI features to search to improve it. This will probably happen over time through free and paid product updates.
How Can Businesses Adapt to Google’s Charging for AI-Powered Search Results?
Before Google starts charging for AI-powered search results, businesses must plan to stay visible and competitive. Firstly, they should determine whether engaging in paid search results or organic SEO is better.
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Moreover, improving website speed and optimising content for relevant keywords can help increase organic exposure. Utilising different search engines and sites can help spread out traffic sources and lower your reliance on Google.
Also, businesses can improve their search skills on their own if they invest in AI technology internally. In the end, responding to Google’s changes needs a multifaceted approach that mixes paid and organic tactics and looks into other ways to get more traffic and grow.