AI is actually making Google search bigger
Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai reported that AI-powered search tools are driving significant growth in search queries and revenue for Google. Despite concerns from publishers regarding traffic loss, the company maintains that its AI features are successfully increasing user engagement.
Why it matters
This highlights the ongoing tension between tech giants integrating AI and the broader digital publishing ecosystem that relies on search traffic.
Sundar Pichai said AI-powered tools are driving Google searches. Sergei GAPON / AFP via Getty Images Google search is growing, and a major reason is AI. Sundar Pichai said AI has driven growth in search queries, and search revenue has increased by 17%. Publishers have reported their search traffic dropping because of Google's AI integrations. Google says its search function is not dead, it's thriving. In a Wednesday earnings call , Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai said Google's AI-powered features, such as AI Overviews and AI mode, were driving growth in search queries. Pichai said he saw this in full effect during the FIFA World Cup that started in June and wrapped up on Sunday. "As a big football fan, I was particularly excited to see search usage hit an all-time high during the World Cup this year," he said.
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