Google Search Is Now Sometimes Using AI To Replace Headlines (theverge.com) 23
"Google is beginning to replace news headlines in its search results with ones that are AI-generated," reports the Verge:
After doing something similar in its Google Discover news feed, it's starting to mess with headlines in the traditional "10 blue links," too. We've found multiple examples where Google replaced headlines we wrote with ones we did not, sometimes changing their meaning in the process. For example, Google reduced our headline "I used the 'cheat on everything' AI tool and it didn't help me cheat on anything" to just five words: "'Cheat on everything' AI tool." It almost sounds like we're endorsing a product we do not recommend at all.
What we are seeing is a "small" and "narrow" experiment, one that's not yet approved for a fuller launch, Google spokespeople Jennifer Kutz, Mallory De Leon, and Ned Adriance tell The Verge. They would not say how "small" that experiment actually is. Over the past few months, multiple Verge staffers have seen examples of headlines that we never wrote appear in Google Search results — headlines that do not follow our editorial style, and without any indication that Google replaced the words we chose. And Google says it's tweaking how other websites show up in search, too, not just news.
The good news, for now, is that these changed headlines seem to be few and far between, and they're not yet the kind of tripe we've seen in Google Discover. (For example, Google Discover told me this week that the PlayStation Portal was getting a 1080p streaming mode, when it actually got a higher bitrate mode instead.) Compared to that and other lying Google Discover headlines like "US reverses foreign drone ban" — on a story reporting the opposite — the nonsense headlines we're seeing in Google Search are downright tame.
The article points out that Google "originally told us its AI headlines in Google Discover were an experiment too. A month later, it told us those AI headlines are now a feature..."
"Google confirmed that the test uses generative AI, but claimed that 'if we were to actually launch something based on this experiment, it would not be using a generative model and we would not be creating headlines with gen AI'..."
What we are seeing is a "small" and "narrow" experiment, one that's not yet approved for a fuller launch, Google spokespeople Jennifer Kutz, Mallory De Leon, and Ned Adriance tell The Verge. They would not say how "small" that experiment actually is. Over the past few months, multiple Verge staffers have seen examples of headlines that we never wrote appear in Google Search results — headlines that do not follow our editorial style, and without any indication that Google replaced the words we chose. And Google says it's tweaking how other websites show up in search, too, not just news.
The good news, for now, is that these changed headlines seem to be few and far between, and they're not yet the kind of tripe we've seen in Google Discover. (For example, Google Discover told me this week that the PlayStation Portal was getting a 1080p streaming mode, when it actually got a higher bitrate mode instead.) Compared to that and other lying Google Discover headlines like "US reverses foreign drone ban" — on a story reporting the opposite — the nonsense headlines we're seeing in Google Search are downright tame.
The article points out that Google "originally told us its AI headlines in Google Discover were an experiment too. A month later, it told us those AI headlines are now a feature..."
"Google confirmed that the test uses generative AI, but claimed that 'if we were to actually launch something based on this experiment, it would not be using a generative model and we would not be creating headlines with gen AI'..."
of course it does (Score:4, Interesting)
the clickbait factor will be reflected in the advertisement price, naturally.
but who is using search anymore, i hear it is all ai chatting now.
Re: (Score:1)
Search is still useful. But google search is not, and regretably neither is DuckSuckGo.
But startpage.com is not (yet) contaminated. Long may it remain that way!
Re: (Score:2)
There is a YouTube add-on called DeArrow that replaces the titles of videos with descriptive ones, instead of clickbait.
If that is what Google is trying to do, and just screwing up, then I hope they can improve it. They already adopted another idea from SponsorBlock for YouTube, which is to skip over in-video ads and filler. For premium subscribers only, of course.
FUCK GOOGLE. (Score:2, Interesting)
A few days ago, without warning, they upgraded ALL the apps on my Android phone. Not just theirs, ALL of them. Of course, all my settings were fucked. Much annoyance ensued.
To top it all off, they added their bullshit Gemini AI to the messaging app. Why the fuck? In fact, I was alerted to all these changes by a "text message" from Gemini itself. Jesus fucking Christ.
I've never been mega-fucked by any company like this, not even by Microsoft. May Google die of cancer in a fire.
My next phone will be an
Re: (Score:2)
Is your phone AI capable? I bought a new one a year ago (the old one was out of OS support) and made sure that mine was not.
My second line in the sand is to use DuckDuckDo as the search engine, although I'm preparing to experiment with Brave's. Replacing the messaging app could be more difficult, especially if I want to keep my history.
DDG just an aggregate (Score:2)
Did the AI just cheat on the doubter? (Score:1)
"Google reduced our headline "I used the 'cheat on everything' AI tool and it didn't help me cheat on anything" to just five words: "'Cheat on everything' AI tool." It almost sounds like we're endorsing a product we do not recommend at all."
Does the dude feel cheated by AI?
We need to force them to revive Do Not Be Evil. (Score:2, Interesting)
I am thoroughly sick and tired of the consistency with which Alphabet subsidiaries engage in small, narrow experiments of things that anyone with a spine could tell them they shouldn't even want to do.
Re: We need to force them to revive Do Not Be Evil (Score:2)
I stopped using Google search when I discovered Kagi.
It's subscription based, but it doesn't cost much.
This approach to monetization means that their only incentive is to make their service better for end users, whereas Google's primary incentive is to sell more ads.
Vote with your wallet.
Re: (Score:2)
anyone on slashdot should be enough of a nerd already to at least make a serious attempt to self-host everything, especially considering freedombox exists
only reason I'm not already using it is I didn't know about that when I had the headspace to start the project and I've had other shit going
News sites will never be happy (Score:3, Insightful)
Google includes actual headlines. News sites complain and demand payment.
Google stops linking to sites. News sites complain and demand payment.
Google links to sites using paraphrased headlines. News sites complain. (I'm sure the demand for payment will follow.)
Remember when... (Score:1)
Re: Remember when... (Score:2)
Closer to 30 than 20 years, but it had text ads for as long as I can remember.
The separation of text ads from real results has slowly eroded since then too, with the ads looking similar to early results now.
Nice, but... (Score:3)
Two different things (Score:2)
I like gemini. It's my favorite AI. I use it frequently
A google search should return the accurate results with NO AI modification
If I want AI, I will choose gemini
In a related news... (Score:2)
At least (Score:2)
Teach it Betteridge's Law on Headlines With a Question Mark.
Imagine how much money Google could make (Score:2)
AI is capital. It's something you use to produce something else. That is definitionally what economists call Capital.
I don't think people realize that because people don't think of software as capital. Especially nerds who got used to basically free software either actually free like open source stuff or the stuff that get
Fuck Google with a chainsaw (Score:2)
Sideways, and with a running chainsaw.
Seriously, in spite of all the grief it would cause people - including me - I would be overjoyed if they just fucking ceased to exist. That would be one less cancer sickening and defacing modern society.
Seriously? (Score:2)
Hell, google news, as of a month or two ago, suddenly started throwing headlines that belong in "entertainment" into "news"..