1. Google is considering charging a fee for access to AI-powered search results, such as generating images and creating trip itineraries.
2. The AI search results are currently available through an opt-in program called Search Generative Experience (SGE), but Google is starting to roll it out to mainstream users in the U.S.
3. Google may want to charge for AI results to enhance its subscription offerings and compete with AI search startups like Perplexity, as well as to provide more nuanced and detailed results for users.
Google is considering charging a fee for access to its AI-powered search results, which includes generating images and creating trip itineraries. This would involve putting AI generated search results behind a paywall or bundling them with existing subscription services like Google One. The rumor comes as Google faces competition from AI search startups in the enterprise search space. Google has denied working on an ad-free search but is focusing on building premium capabilities to enhance subscription offerings.
Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE) uses AI models to create structured responses to queries where a single website may not have the information. It is currently only available as an opt-in for Google Search Labs users, but is starting to roll out to mainstream results for some U.S. users. The AI results can be completely different depending on the query, offering things like recipes or trip itineraries.
Other companies like Perplexity are also working on AI search results and trying to compete with Google by offering more detailed and nuanced results. Google already has an AI subscription service, Google One, which includes access to Gemini Advanced. Adding Gemini in Search to this list would make it a more compelling proposition. Google has not confirmed any plans to charge for AI search results, but has been reinventing search to help people access information more naturally for years.
While Google has developed the ability to charge for AI search results, executives are still deciding whether to deploy it and to what extent. There are concerns that even hinting at charging could harm Google’s profitability in the search business.