Robert Triggs / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Google Search’s AI Overviews is now producing cellphone comparability lists.
- As one would count on, the knowledge Google bases its outcomes on comes from websites like Android Authority.
- Google doing this makes it much less seemingly that we’ll make this sort of content material, after which the place will AI Overviews get its info?
If you’re searching for the perfect smartphone you may get in the mean time, one of many pure questions you’ll ask your self is, “How does [new phone] evaluate to [my current phone]?” Often, you’ll go to Google and ask that very query. If you do, you’ll discover a lengthy record of digital publications, YouTube movies, and even podcast episodes going over the nuances between Cellphone A and Cellphone B. This has been one of many core methods many tech retailers — together with Android Authority — hold the lights on.
As we speak, although, through Search Engine Land, we discovered that Google is rolling out AI-generated cellphone comparisons proper in Google Search. Now, whenever you seek for one thing like “galaxy s24 vs galaxy s23,” the AI Overviews system will create a comparability record for these two units, providing you with the core info you have to learn about how every stacks towards the opposite.
You’ll be able to see what this new system appears like by visiting Google your self or trying out the screenshot under:
C. Scott Brown / Android Authority
Since Google is making an attempt to be clear about the place generative AI pulls its info from, you possibly can see an inventory of 21 totally different sources that helped to create the desk above. You’ll undoubtedly acknowledge lots of them, together with Tom’s Information, PCMag, Cellphone Area, and extra.
Whereas this new system appears handy for the consumer, it’s truly a horrible concept.
AI Overviews cellphone comparisons: Why that is unhealthy for us, Google, and also you
Should you’ll enable me to, I’m going to get a bit inside baseball with you for a second. Most individuals visiting Android Authority perceive that your go to earns us income, whether or not by advert impressions, affiliate linking, or different typical strategies. In a nutshell, you hanging out on our pages earns us cash. Traditionally, “versus” content material — comparable to an article going over the Samsung Galaxy S24 vs the Samsung Galaxy S23 — has been the most effective methods for us to earn income. The content material is just not difficult to create, has long-lasting worth, and one cellphone can spawn off many various articles (Galaxy S24 vs Galaxy S22, Galaxy S24 vs Galaxy S23 FE, Galaxy S24 vs Pixel 9, and on and on). This is the reason Google’s AI Overviews system is ready to pull knowledge from so many publications: the entire business is making this sort of content material as a result of it’s a money-maker.
With this new cellphone comparability system in AI Overviews, although, Google is making it much less seemingly that individuals will go to retailers like Android Authority to get this info. Clearly, this hurts our backside line and the underside strains of different retailers like ours. That’s why that is unhealthy for us, however stick with me; this will get unhealthy for Google and for you, too.
Given sufficient time, Google’s system will kill off the creation of this sort of content material. The place will AI Overviews get it when that occurs?
If Google sticks with having AI-generated summaries of versus content material seem proper in Search, that sort of content material will make much less cash. Thus, the retailers that create that content material will cease prioritizing it — or cease making it altogether. Now, as a substitute of pulling info from 21 retailers, AI Overviews will pull it from fewer sources. Given sufficient time, this turns into a vicious cycle, till the AI Overviews outcomes are skinny on info and even downright fallacious. Even right now, the outcomes you see within the screenshot above are doubtful (the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S23 have the identical actual rear digicam system, so why does it say the S24 has a 12MP digicam and the Galaxy S23 has a 50MP digicam?).
Lastly, now you — the one who merely desires to know what’s higher concerning the Galaxy S24 when in comparison with the Galaxy S23 — can have a tougher time discovering that info. AI Overviews isn’t providing you with what you want, and all of the retailers that beforehand made versus content material don’t do it anymore.
In a nutshell, in the long run, everybody loses.
I perceive totally that generative AI is altering issues. Right here at Android Authority, now we have been and can proceed to change our methods in response to AI methods. So please don’t suppose that I’m boo-hooing about how this transformation hurts us, and now I need sympathy. Issues change, and we have to change with them, which is simply a part of the enterprise. Nonetheless, the best way Google has made this technique is unhealthy. It’s positively unhealthy for us, however in the long run, it’s additionally unhealthy for everybody else, together with Google. Hopefully, the corporate figures that out sooner fairly than later.
