Introduction to Search Live

Google is rolling out a new feature called Search Live, which allows users to have natural, spoken conversations with the search engine while receiving web links in real-time. This feature was first previewed at Google I/O and is now available for users in the U.S.

How Search Live Works

To access Search Live, users can open the Google app on their Android or iOS device and tap the new "Live" icon under the search bar. Once started, users can ask questions out loud and receive AI-generated audio responses. Google uses a custom version of its Gemini model with advanced voice features to power Search Live. The system remembers previous conversations, allowing users to ask follow-up questions naturally.

Key Features and Functionality

Search Live offers several key features, including:

• The ability to continue conversations even when switching to other apps
• A "transcript" button that shows text versions of audio responses, allowing users to switch between talking and typing
• The ability to save conversation history and access previous Search Live sessions
• Web links that appear on screen alongside voice responses, providing quick access to source content

Technology and Implementation

Google’s custom Gemini model for Search Live builds on the company’s existing search systems. The setup uses a "query fan-out technique" to find diverse web content and provide users with different sources and viewpoints. Google plans to add more features to Search Live in the coming months, including camera integration for real-time visual queries.

Why This Matters

The introduction of Search Live could be a significant shift in how people use search engines. With a focus on natural language queries, optimization must go beyond traditional keyword targeting. Marketers should test out Search Live and consider how their content appears in conversational situations. This change may also affect how we understand search intent, as conversational queries often show more detailed needs than regular typed searches.

Getting Started

To use Search Live, users must join the AI Mode experiment through Google Labs. Once signed up, the Live icon will appear in the Google app, and users can start exploring the feature.

Conclusion

Search Live is an exciting new feature that offers a more natural and conversational way to interact with Google. With its advanced voice features and ability to provide web links in real-time, Search Live has the potential to change the way we use search engines. As the feature continues to evolve and improve, it will be interesting to see how it impacts the way we search for information and how marketers optimize their content for conversational queries.