Google Expands Features to Improve User Experience
Google is taking significant steps to enhance its search features, making it easier for users to find and engage with their favorite content. The company is expanding its Preferred Sources feature to English-language users worldwide and launching a pilot program to test AI-powered features with major news publishers.
What’s New with Preferred Sources
Preferred Sources in Search allows users to customize their Top Stories to see more from their favorite outlets. This feature is now being rolled out globally for English-language users, with support for all languages expected early next year. According to Google, nearly 90,000 unique sources have been selected by users, ranging from local blogs to global news outlets. Users who pick a preferred source click on that site twice as often on average, indicating a higher level of engagement.
Highlighting Subscriptions
A new feature will highlight links from users’ paid news subscriptions in search results. Google will also prioritize links from subscribed publications and show them in a dedicated carousel. This feature will launch first in the Gemini app in the coming weeks, with AI Overviews and AI Mode to follow, although a specific timeline has not been provided.
Updates to AI Mode
Google is increasing the number of inline links in AI Mode and updating their design. The company is also adding contextual introductions to embedded links, which are short statements explaining why a particular link might be useful. Additionally, Web Guide, which organizes links into topic groups using AI, is now twice as fast and appearing on more searches for users opted into the experiment.
Partnering with Publishers
Google has announced a commercial partnership pilot with several major publishers, including Der Spiegel, El País, and The Washington Post. The pilot will test AI-powered features in Google News, such as article overviews on participating publications’ Google News pages and audio briefings for those who prefer listening. These features will include attribution and link to articles, ensuring that publishers receive proper credit for their work.
Why These Changes Matter
These updates demonstrate Google’s commitment to improving the user experience and supporting the publishing industry. By allowing users to customize their search results and highlighting content from their subscribed publications, Google is providing more opportunities for users to engage with their favorite sources. The partnership with publishers also highlights the importance of collaboration between tech companies and content providers.
Looking Ahead
Preferred Sources is now available for English-language users globally, with full language support expected early next year. The subscription highlighting feature will start in the Gemini app in the coming weeks, while the publisher AI pilot has already begun with participating publications in Google News. As Google continues to develop and refine its features, users can expect a more personalized and engaging search experience.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Google’s latest updates are designed to enhance the user experience and provide more opportunities for engagement with favorite sources. By expanding Preferred Sources, highlighting subscriptions, and partnering with publishers, Google is demonstrating its commitment to supporting the publishing industry and providing users with the content they want. As these features continue to roll out, users can expect a more personalized and engaging search experience.