🔗 Google Plans To Charge For A.I.-Powered Searches 📱
C.I.T.Y. Network
April 10, 2024
Google is weighing the possibility of charging subscription fees for its AI-powered online search features.
Subscription plans would mark the first time in Google’s history that it has charged for use of its search engine.
Google is risking further scrutiny from The Justice Department, while already in the middle of an Antitrust lawsuit targeting the firm’s alleged monopoly over the online search market.
The unspecified AI search features could be added to Google’s existing premium subscription services, which already offers Gemini AI assistant within its Gmail and Docs products, according to the Financial Times.
Google executives have yet to decide whether to implement the concept, but are said to be in active development.
The company’s regular search engine would still be free to use.
Both the premium and free search products would show ads.
“For years, we’ve been reinventing Search to help people access information in the way that’s most natural to them. With our generative A.I. experiments in Search, we’ve already served billions of queries, and we’re seeing positive Search query growth in all of our major markets. We’re continuing to rapidly improve the product to serve new user needs.”
LEGAL ACTION AGAINST GOOGLE
Lawmakers believe the addition of AI-powered search could further solidify Google’s monopoly over the online search market.
A federal judge is expected to hear final arguments in the D.O.J.’s antitrust suit against Google next month, with a verdict projected later this year.
DOJ lawyers focused on Google’s use of billions of dollars in payments to Apple and other partners to ensure its search engine is enabled by default on most smartphones.
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