Google’s AI-driven Search Generative Experience (SGE) is introducing a significant feature: the ability to summarize articles you’re reading online, as per a recent Google blog post.
The feature, dubbed “SGE while browsing,” is being rolled out gradually as an early experiment within Google’s opt-in Search Labs program. Initially available on the Google app for Android and iOS, it will also be introduced to the Chrome browser on desktop soon.
For users with access to the feature on the Google app, tapping an icon at the bottom of the screen will bring up AI-generated “key points” from an article. This functionality is limited to articles freely accessible on the web and won’t work with paywalled content.
Google is implementing other enhancements to SGE as well. In search results related to subjects like science, economics, and history, users will be able to hover over certain words for definitions or diagrams. Additionally, Google is enhancing the comprehensibility of SGE’s coding-related summaries.
SGE was introduced at Google I/O in May and has been continually refined since then. While not universally favored, Google views its progress positively, with CEO Sundar Pichai noting that user feedback has been encouraging, and he envisions this as the future of how Search operates.
