Google is reimagining Search to be more like an AI assistant by 2025, according to CEO Sundar Pichai during a recent earnings call. Google has already taken steps toward this transformation, with AI overviews marking the beginning of a significant shift in how Search delivers information to users.
Pichai believes 2025 will be a pivotal year for search innovation as Google continues to enhance Search with AI features, drawing from the company’s DeepMind research lab. Unlike traditional search engines that show a list of links, Google plans to have Search act as an AI assistant that actively searches the web, reviews pages and provides answers.
This AI-focused direction began after OpenAI launched ChatGPT in 2022, which challenged Google’s traditional search model. The move is expected to have far-reaching effects on websites that rely on Google’s traffic and businesses that depend on paid ads.
Google is moving ahead with its plans, and Pichai mentioned Project Astra, DeepMind’s multimodal AI system, which will allow users to interact with real-time video content and ask AI questions. In addition to this, Google plans to use Project Astra for augmented reality smart glasses and create its own operating system.
Pichai also introduced the idea of Gemini Deep Research, an AI agent capable of creating long research reports, which could change how people use Search for deeper insights.
He hinted at future AI agents like Project Mariner, which could browse websites for users, minimizing the need for people to visit websites themselves. Google is also exploring ways to let users ask follow-up questions, making the search experience more conversational and interactive.
While the rollout of AI overviews faced criticism due to inaccuracies, Google remains committed to further AI integration into Search, aiming to make it a more interactive and capable tool by 2025.
