Google updates AI search to include ‘expert advice’ from Reddit and other web forums
Source: TechCrunch
Google Updates AI Search
Google is updating search to refine its AI experience by adding additional context to links, such as conversations from web forums, and a feature that highlights links from a user’s news subscriptions.
While citing web forums and discussion boards can help users find answers to more niche queries, this design choice could also prove chaotic.
Image Credits: Google (opens in a new window)
Background: AI Overviews
Two years ago, Google overhauled its search experience to put AI front and center. When you search for something, Google often summons an “AI Overview,” which has received mixed reception. Early users pointed out how the feature could be exploited, since it sometimes failed to recognize sarcasm or information from dubious sources. For example, it cited The Onion when telling someone to eat “one small rock per day,” and used Reddit to advise someone to put glue on their pizza to make the cheese stick better.
New Feature: Expert Advice from Forums
Google explains that “for many searches, people are increasingly seeking out advice from others.” The updated AI responses will now include a preview of perspectives from public online discussions, social media, and other firsthand sources. Additional context—such as a creator’s name, handle, or community name—will be added to help users decide which discussions to read or participate in.
“To help you find the most helpful insights to explore further, AI responses will now include a preview of perspectives from public online discussions, social media, and other firsthand sources.” – Google
Accuracy Concerns
Although AI Overviews have improved, they remain prone to hallucination. A recent New York Times analysis found that the AI Overviews were correct about nine times out of ten. For a company that processes trillions of queries a year, that success rate still translates to hundreds of thousands of inaccurate results every minute.
Implications for Users
The addition of forum‑derived content blurs the line between a concise AI answer and a traditional search results page. Users may wonder whether the AI Overview is meant to answer a question directly or simply serve a variety of sources that might contain the answer. Providing more context about the origin of each citation can help users assess trustworthiness, similar to how ChatGPT or Claude sometimes include supporting links.
Recommendation: Double‑check that the AI is not hallucinating the validity of its citations.
Image Credits: Google (opens in a new window)
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