Google CEO Sundar Pichai has announced that the company’s search engine will evolve profoundly by 2025, driven by cutting-edge artificial intelligence.
Speaking at the New York Times’ DealBook Summit, Sundar Pichai expressed confidence in artificial intelligence as the driving force behind the transformation. “Search itself will continue to change profoundly in 2025,” he said. “I think you’ll be surprised, even early in [2025], by the newer things search can do compared to where it is today.”
The announcement comes as Google continues its push to integrate AI into its products. Recent updates include AI-generated search summaries and enhancements to its Lens feature, which now supports video-based web searches.
Google is also preparing a major update to its Gemini model as it competes with rivals such as Microsoft and OpenAI.
Pichai highlighted how AI technologies, like BERT and MUM, have already improved the accuracy and functionality of search results, noting that over a billion users engage with Gemini-powered AI features.
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During the summit, Sundar Pichai addressed comments made earlier this year by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who suggested Google should have been the “default winner” in the AI race. Pichai took a jab at Microsoft’s reliance on OpenAI models, stating, “I would love to do a side-by-side comparison of Microsoft’s own models and our models. They’re using someone else’s models.”
The discussion also turned to the balance between fair use and compensation for content creators. While Pichai pointed to Google’s licensing agreements with platforms such as Reddit, the Associated Press, and The New York Times, he acknowledged the ongoing debate about the value of intellectual property in the AI era.
Sundar Pichai suggested that a future marketplace could allow creators to develop content specifically for AI models and receive direct compensation.
Sundar Pichai concluded by emphasising the importance of search in an age overwhelmed by information. “In a world inundated with content, search becomes even more valuable,” he said. With profound changes on the horizon, Google is positioning itself to remain a leader in the AI-driven evolution of technology.
