Google Search is set to expand its AI Overviews to six new countries, including India, over two months after the feature was rolled out in the US.
In India, Google will be rolling out AI Overviews in English and Hindi. Besides, the tech giant will also introduce India-first features from its Search Labs experiment, such as a language toggle button for switching between English and Hindi results and a Text-To-Speech option to listen to responses by tapping the ‘Listen’ button.
“After extensive testing and positive feedback in the US and from Search Labs globally, we’re expanding the helpfulness of AI Overviews to six new countries: the United Kingdom, India, Japan, Indonesia, Mexico, and Brazil, with local language support in each,” said Hema Budaraju, senior director of product management for Search, in a blog post.
As per the blog post, Google has extensively tested user responses to updates in Search, noting that since the launch of AI Overviews in the US, users who engage with them tend to use Search more frequently and report higher satisfaction with their results.
The post mentioned that users are increasingly turning to AI Overviews for complex topics, with particularly high engagement among younger users aged 18-24.
The feature launched in the US in May offers users a preview of a topic or query based on a variety of sources, including web sources, in the search bar.
Since then, people have been asking more detailed questions, delving into complex topics, and uncovering new perspectives, creating more opportunities for users to discover content from publishers, businesses, and creators.
Now, Google is introducing new ways to view relevant websites during searches, including a right-hand link display for AI Overviews on desktop and site icons on mobile. These updates will begin rolling out globally for AI Overviews and Search Labs users in over 120 countries and territories.
This comes on the backdrop of Google expanding its India footprint with a range of new offerings for its users.
A few months ago, the tech major expanded its Google Translate service by adding seven new Indian languages: Awadhi, Bodo, Khasi, Kokborok, Marwadi, Santali, and Tulu. Additionally, Google introduced support for 103 other global languages, marking what it described as the “largest expansion” of the service. With this update, Google Translate now supports 243 languages. The company also made significant language updates to its leading AI product, Gemini.
Earlier, it also rolled out a mobile app for its chatbot in India with new capabilities in English and nine Indian languages earlier this month.
In may it launched the Google Wallet app for Android users in India in partnership with multiple ecommerce platforms and ticketing partners.
