As competition with Microsoft's Bing search engine intensifies, Google is preparing for public testing of its advanced AI-powered search features, codenamed Project Magi, next month. This move comes as a response to Bing's integration of OpenAI's GPT and increased user adoption.
Reports surfaced earlier this year that Microsoft's deployment of Bing with OpenAI's GPT sent shockwaves through Google, as it could potentially impact their core search and advertising businesses. Consequently, Google has been concentrating its efforts on developing its own AI capacities under Project Magi. Ads will still be displayed in search results provided by Magi, particularly those linked to financial transactions, while the AI technology enhances Google's existing search engine features.
Project Magi is said to involve approximately 160 engineers who are focused on fine-tuning and testing the latest iterations of the AI tool. The development process consists of design, engineering, and executive personnel working together in sprint rooms to optimize and test the technology.
Google's public release of the tool is slated for next month, with around one million users being granted access to the AI-powered features in the initial phase. The total user figure is projected to reach 30 million by the end of the year.
Meanwhile, Microsoft's extensive investments in AI research and development, particularly via OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, afford it a competitive edge in the AI space. Seeing this, Google is now eager to catch up and compete on an equal footing.
Reports from insiders reveal that after Microsoft's event announcing the GPT-enhanced Bing search engine and Edge browser, Google hastily organized a last-minute event of its own. Unfortunately, the event was poorly executed, with previous announcements revisited, a presenter losing their phone, and the absence of Google CEO Sundar Pichai. Internal criticism of Pichai's leadership surfaced on Google's 'Memegen' forum, with employees urging him to adopt a more long-term perspective.
The user base of Microsoft's AI-enhanced Bing surged past 100 million users in the month following its release. Yusuf Mehdi, Head of Bing at Microsoft, noted in a blog post that approximately one-third of the new users trying Bing in its preview stage were new to the platform. He regarded this as evidence that search was ripe for reinvention and that a combination of Search, Answers, Chat, and Creation in one experience offers unique value.
Through Project Magi, Google aims to demonstrate that it hasn't fallen behind Microsoft and to reassert its position as a leading tech company. This comes as no-code platforms, such as AppMaster.io, continue to make advanced technology more accessible, further transforming the competitive landscape in the rapidly evolving tech industry.
