AI search feature hasn't changed user interaction yet

Google's new AI feature, called AI Overviews, aims to improve how users find information. Launched in May 2023, it provides AI-generated answers at the top of search results by summarizing information from various websites. The feature has now been made available in over 100 countries, including Canada. Despite the potential benefits, some critics are concerned. They worry that if users rely too much on AI Overviews, traffic to their websites could decrease. This drop in traffic could hurt businesses that depend on online advertising for their revenue. To explore these concerns, researchers at HEC Montréal studied how AI Overviews affect user behavior. They compared scenarios where users interacted with AI-generated summaries to traditional Google search results. The study measured aspects like click behavior and user satisfaction. The results showed that AI Overviews did not significantly change how users perceive relevance or satisfaction with search results. Users continued to click on regular search links just as they did before. However, experts noted that user habits might change over time as people adapt to the new feature. As the competition in online search grows, Google and other tech companies are looking to enhance user experience. Recently, Google introduced another feature called AI mode to provide additional AI-generated results. The race for better search technology continues among major players in the industry.