Google Launches New Generative AI Search Experience in Africa

Google has launched a new generative AI search experience in Africa, called Search Generative Experience (SGE). The opt-in experiment is currently available in English on Chrome desktop and the latest version of the Google App on Android and iOS.

SGE uses AI to deliver an overview of key information to consider at the top of search results, with links to dig deeper. It also carries over context from question to question, to help users more naturally continue their exploration. For example, if you search for “Does Honey ever Spoil?”, SGE will first deliver an overview of the topic, and then suggest next steps like “What is the oldest honey ever eaten?” or “What are the different types of honey?”.

Google says that SGE is part of its vision to make Search radically more helpful. The company has trained the models used in SGE to uphold Search’s high bar for quality, and will continue to improve them over time.

At a press event, the company assured that it has trained the models used in SGE to uphold Search’s high bar for quality, which it will continue to improve over time. These hallmark systems have been fine-tuned for decades, but will also have additional guardrails, like limiting the types of queries where generative AI capabilities will appear.

Speaking on the new feature, Google’s General Manager for Search in Africa, Wambui Kinya, highlights the value that the new generative AI brings:

“With new generative AI capabilities in Search, we’re now taking more of the work out of searching. We’re imagining a supercharged Search that does the heavy lifting for you so you’ll be able to understand a topic faster, uncover new viewpoints and insights, and get things done more easily.”

“This Search Generative Experience is the first step we’re taking in this journey, and part of our vision to make Search radically more helpful. We’re excited to bring this to the SSA region, and look forward to receiving feedback and iterating on the experience alongside our users over the next few months”, she concludes.

To start using SGE, users in Africa simply need to tap the Labs icon in the Google app or Chrome desktop. Access through the Google app will be enabled over the coming week.

Here are some of the key benefits of SGE:

• Faster answers: SGE can help users find answers to their questions more quickly by providing a concise overview of key information at the top of search results.
• More natural exploration: SGE carries over context from question to question, which helps users more naturally continue their exploration.
• More links to discover: SGE shows more links, and links to a wider range of sources on the results page, creating new opportunities for content to be discovered.

How to get started with SGE:

1. Open the Google app or Chrome desktop.
2. Tap the Labs icon.
3. Enable Search Generative Experience.

You can now start using SGE to explore your favorite topics and find answers to your questions more quickly and easily.

Note: SGE is still under development, so Google is encouraging users in Africa to share feedback directly with the teams working on it.