• News
    • Tech News
    • AI
  • Gadgets
    • Apple
    • iPhone
  • Gaming
    • Playstation
    • Xbox
  • Science
    • News
    • Space
  • Streaming
    • Netflix
  • Vehicles
    • Car News
  • Social Media
    • WhatsApp
    • YouTube
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
TikTok
Snapchat
WhatsApp
Submit Your Content
Google 'considers charging' for premium search results powered by AI in big change to business model

Home> News> Tech News

Published 10:44 5 Apr 2024 GMT+1

Google 'considers charging' for premium search results powered by AI in big change to business model

But Google said in a statement to various outlets that it was "not working on or considering an ad-free search experience".

Kerri-Ann Roper

Kerri-Ann Roper

Google is reportedly considering whether it should change its core search business model to start charging for the option of "premium" results.

These results would integrate AI tools more fully and would be different from core search results, which would apparently be unchanged and still available to everyone for free.

It's not so much that Google is looking to gate certain AI features behind a paywall, but rather that it's trying to figure out which of its AI features should be limited to those who pay for its memberships, like Google One.

Google is reportedly considering whether it should change its core search business model to start charging for the option of "premium" results/ SOPA Images / Contributor / Getty
Google is reportedly considering whether it should change its core search business model to start charging for the option of "premium" results/ SOPA Images / Contributor / Getty

Advert

The move has been reported by the Financial Times, which says that at least three sources have confirmed the discussions.

While some features are reserved for subscribers, including AI tools while using Google Docs and more, this would arguably be the first time that it locked a new core product behind a subscription.

When Sky News reached out to Google, a spokesperson said: "We're not working on or considering an ad-free search experience. As we've done many times before, we'll continue to build new premium capabilities and services to enhance our subscription offerings across Google."

It rebuts a question that has been picking up steam in the last year or so about the search experience.

Advert

Adverts have always been how Google funded its search engine, but plenty of critics feel that search results are now too suffused with these ads, making it harder to sift through to find genuinely helpful or relevant web pages.

Google said in a statement to the FT and BBC News that it was "not working on or considering an ad-free search experience"
Dilara Irem Sancar/Anadolu via Getty Images

The challenge for Google, it would seem, is finding a way to preserve its massive advertising revenue while using AI. For example, when it serves up an "AI-powered snapshot" summarising results, as it's been testing, this result costs it more to generate than a standard one, thanks to the AI processes required.

So, if users also don't scroll as far down the page or click onto a website using Google's own ad-hosting platform, having read the generative text summary without any issue, that presents a small problem for Google of its own making.

Advert

Plenty of website owners are also concerned that this could starve them of traffic fairly immediately, so it all adds up to what looks like a pretty significant quandary for the giant search engine.

With additional concerns about reliability and the risk of either misinformation or offensive results being generated by AI, there's a lot to ponder for executives right now.

Featured Image Credit: Anadolu / Contributor / NurPhoto / Contributor / Getty
Google
AI

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

2 hours ago
10 hours ago
11 hours ago
  • 2 hours ago

    ChatGPT users freak out as Sam Altman launches 'AI agents' eerily similar to apocalyptic 'AI 2027' prediction

    It's like an AI Nostradamus and Baba Vanga

    News
  • 10 hours ago

    Disturbing simulation shows how much microplastic we consume every week and the result is terrifying

    Paper straws suddenly don't seem so bad

    Science
  • 10 hours ago

    'Coldplaygate' CEO Andy Byron targeted by namesake in viral LinkedIn post as he deletes account

    A man with the same name weighed in on the drama that unfolded at a Coldplay concert

    News
  • 11 hours ago

    How Andy Byron's $1,300,000,000 company could be affected after Coldplay 'catch him with another woman'

    The ultimate being caught in 4K

    News
  • WhatsApp users warned Google is reading their messages by default
  • Google could be about to drastically change following controversial AI responses
  • Google removes major AI policy that could have serious implications for global war
  • Google DeepMind CEO issues chilling warning for what will happen to AI in five years