Google Tests AI-Powered Conversational Search Feature for Real-Time Voice Queries

Google App Might Soon Let You Search Queries in Real Time

The Google Search feature continuously listens for audio prompts Google is said to be working on an artificial intelligence (AI) feature that will let users get real-time responses and ask follow-up queries. As per a leak, the new feature is called conversational search, and it is being added to the Google app for Android. With this, when users ask a voice query, the app is said to show real-time responses as well as allow them to ask follow-up questions. The feature was first spotted in the beta version of the Google app. In an X (formerly known as Twitter) post, tipster AssembleDebug shared a demo video of the feature. Explaining it, he said that the conversational search feature in the Google app can continuously listen to the user's voice and one can ask follow-up questions directly without needing to tap the mic icon over and over. Recently, Android Authority also found evidence of the feature in the Google app beta version 5.43.36.28, where several strings of code detailed its functioning. The strings revealed that the conversational search feature is powered by AI, and the mode can be activated by tapping the microphone button. Once activated, it can reportedly continuously listen to the user, waiting for any follow-up queries. This way, the user does not have to tap on the button over and over again. In the demo video, the tipster was able to activate the feature directly by using the Google Search widget for Android. This likely means that the conversational search can be accessed both by going to the Google app as well as the Search widget. Notably, there is no word on when this feature will be released for beta testers or the global user base. Separately, a report claimed that Google has released a standalone Gemini app for iOS. It is reportedly similar to the Android app and even comes with the Gemini Live, the two-way voice conversation feature, built into it. However, several users have claimed that the app is not available in their region or country.

Google is testing a feature for real-time conversations within Search

As OpenAI enters the search engine market with ChatGPT Search, Google is ramping up its AI efforts to maintain its search engine dominance. The latest move? A real-time, conversational, voice-to-search feature right within Google Search. Google app tipster @AssembleDebug on X posted a video of a new feature that Google is currently testing out, which allows users to talk to Google Search within the Google mobile app. You must provide a question or search query to Google by speaking into your device -- and Google will provide search results in response. You can then ask follow-up questions and Google Search will update in real-time to provide relevant search results for those queries, too. While Google already offers voice-to-search capabilities, it was previously limited to one query at a time. To ask another question, the user had to restart the process by tapping the microphone button. With this new update, voice-to-search will now be contextual and conversational. Once a user starts the process, they can continue to ask follow-ups without further manual input. In return, Google will continuously provide search links and AI-powered summaries in response to those queries. The feature is not yet publicly available in the Google app -- and it's uncertain whether it will be released. However, as OpenAI and other AI companies move toward voice-to-text capabilities, Google will likely also release similar features to keep up, so expect this one, or some version of it, sometime in the near future.

Google is testing interactive voice searches with results that update in real time

With the rise of generative AI bots, it feels like Google's dominance in web search is under serious threat for the first time in a long time, but Google itself is busy testing new features to help users find information faster. As spotted by well-known tipster @AssembleDebug (via Android Central), Google is experimenting with a real-time conversational search experience on mobile. You simply chat to Google, and the results change automatically with each input, as you ask follow-up questions or submit new ones. It's not immediately clear where this demo was found, but given the good track record of this particular leaker, it may well have been discovered hidden in early testing code for Android or the Google app on Android. You can already search Google using your voice on mobile - just tap the microphone icon rather than typing anything in - but the continuous listening and instant refreshes are new, and make the experience smoother and more natural. We're seeing a lot of innovation around web search and information gathering at the moment, from Google and many others. Barely a day goes by without some kind of new tool arriving, most often powered by AI. The idea of voice as an input method is having something of a renaissance as well. Of course, we've been chatting to our smart speakers and smartphones for years at this point, but generative AI has made the conversations more fluid and more useful. All of the big names in tech are working towards ways of combining multiple inputs together (known as a multimodal approach), so that voice, video, images, and text can all be combined and used for queries. This is another move towards that. There's no official word from Google on this yet, and we don't know when (or if) the functionality will appear, but there's no doubt the company's products are going to continue to evolve at a rapid pace.

Google’s Conversational Search Could Update Results While You Speak

Conversational search will understand memory and context so you can talk to it like a person. Android tipster, AssembleDebug, recently took to X to share a screen recording of a potential Google feature: conversational search. The demo shows the search engine responding to user's voice queries in real-time, updating the results as the user spoke. While voice input is already a Google feature, it currently doesn't have it integrated with AI to allow follow-up questions and responses in real time. The tipster reports that Google is currently experimenting with the feature and may release it soon, although we don't have much intel on when. If launched, it will likely be a mobile-exclusive feature. 2024 has been a big year for online AI agents and dedicated AI tools that are supposed to respond to your queries in the most human-like way possible. Being capable of retaining memory and understanding context are some features these AI tools heavily boast. This means you can ask it follow up questions after your initial query and it will remember and understand what you're referring to. The screen recording shows "Where is Taj Mahal?" as the first query and "Why was it built?" as the third question, showing a more conversational interaction. Conversational search isn't drastically different from other AI tools using Gemini AI or ChatGPT. The convenience here lies in its direct integrations within the search results. It's apparent that Google is scrambling to keep its search engine relevant looking at the sudden surge of AI chatbots. Its most recent threat is OpenAI's ChatGPT Search which is promising to bring a natural language interface with timely answers and updated query results. Google has already suffered from excessive affiliate marketing and SEO authority-chasing websites. Its search results have recently gotten worse. The addition of Gemini AI overviews transformed the traditional search experience, frustrating many users. It remains to be seen whether conversational search will improve the app or further detract from its usability. Many users complain that the search engine is in such a poor state that they have to end their queries with "Reddit" so they can find "real" results, avoiding affiliate-links-hungry text or an AI-generated articles. Despite the rise in generative AI bots, no one has still been able to successfully trump Google as of yet. But it makes sense why Google is trying to future-proof its search engine.

Google is testing the ultimate search system thanks to AI - Softonic

With the rise of generative AI bots, it seemed that Google's dominance in web searches would be seriously threatened for the first time in a long time. Fortunately, Google is doing its own thing, and its goal is to continue improving its browser and the way we search for information. According to the well-known informant @AssembleDebug, Google is experimenting with a real-time conversational search experience on mobile. Just chat with Google, and the results automatically change with each entry as follow-up questions are asked or new ones are sent. It is not clear where this demo has been found, but given the good track record of this particular leaker, it is possible that it was discovered hidden in the code of early tests for Android or in the Google app on Android. You can now perform Google searches with your voice on mobile (just tap the microphone icon instead of typing anything), but continuous listening and instant updates are new and make the experience smoother and more natural. Google and many other companies are innovating a lot in the search and collection of information on the Internet. Hardly a day goes by without some kind of new tool appearing, almost always driven by AI. The idea of voice as an input method is also experiencing a renaissance. Of course, we have been chatting with our smart speakers and smartphones for years, but generative AI has made conversations smoother and more useful. All the big names in technology are working on ways to combine multiple inputs (what is known as a multimodal approach) so that voice, video, images, and text can be combined and used to make queries. And this is another step in that direction. Google has not officially commented on it yet, and we do not know when this functionality will appear, but there is no doubt that the company's products will continue to evolve at a dizzying pace.