Google updates AI search to include quotes from Reddit and other web forums

Google is updating search to refine its AI experience by adding additional context to links. The changes include excerpts from web forums and blogs. Google is also adding a feature that highlights links from a user's news subscriptions. Two years ago Google overhauled its search experience to put AI front and center. Google often summons an AI Overview when a user searches. The feature has drawn mixed reception from users. Users have pointed out how the feature could be exploited. It failed to recognize sarcasm or information from dubious sources. The system cited The Onion when advising to eat one small rock per day and used Reddit to suggest putting glue on pizza to make cheese stick. Google stated that AI Overviews have improved significantly. The feature remains prone to hallucination like other systems powered by an LLM. A New York Times analysis found AI Overviews were correct about nine times out of 10. Google processes trillions of queries a year. That rate means hundreds of thousands of searches produce inaccurate results every minute. Google explained that many searches involve seeking advice from others. AI responses will now include a preview of perspectives from public online discussions, social media and other firsthand sources. The company is adding more context to links such as a creator's name, handle or community name. The update adds more context to where AI Overview commentary comes from. This approach resembles how other systems provide links to support claims.