Introduction to Web Guide
Google has introduced a new feature called Web Guide, which is halfway between normal search and AI Mode. This feature is currently available as a Search Labs experiment, meaning users have to opt-in to try it out. Web Guide takes over the "Web" tab of Google search and provides AI-generated headings with summaries and suggestions.
How Web Guide Works
Web Guide is designed to work with longer or open-ended queries, such as "how to solo travel in Japan." When a user searches for a query like this, Web Guide will provide a list of links, along with AI-generated headings and summaries. This feature takes a beat longer to produce results compared to a standard search, as it has to run additional searches and generate content. However, it does not include an AI Overview at the top.
Enabling Web Guide
To try out Web Guide, users need to opt-in to the Search Labs experiment. Once enabled, Web Guide will take over the "Web" tab of Google search. However, users can still revert to the normal, non-AI-optimized page using a toggle. Google notes that this feature will eventually expand to encompass more parts of the search experience, such as the "All" tab.
Example of Web Guide in Action
A video example of Web Guide in action shows how the feature works. The video uses the search query "how to solo travel in Japan" and demonstrates how Web Guide provides AI-generated headings and summaries, along with links to relevant websites.
Future of Web Guide
It’s likely that Web Guide will roll out widely after a short testing period, similar to AI Mode. Google has been actively exploring the use of generative AI in its search features, and Web Guide is another example of this. While it’s technically possible that the test will not result in a new universal search feature, it’s likely that Web Guide will become a standard part of the Google search experience.
Conclusion
Web Guide is a new feature from Google that provides AI-generated headings and summaries in search results. This feature is currently available as a Search Labs experiment and is designed to work with longer or open-ended queries. While it’s still in the testing phase, it’s likely that Web Guide will roll out widely in the future and become a standard part of the Google search experience.
FAQs
- What is Web Guide? Web Guide is a new feature from Google that provides AI-generated headings and summaries in search results.
- How do I enable Web Guide? To try out Web Guide, users need to opt-in to the Search Labs experiment.
- Will Web Guide replace standard search? It’s likely that Web Guide will become a standard part of the Google search experience, but it’s still in the testing phase.
- Can I revert to standard search if I don’t like Web Guide? Yes, users can still revert to the normal, non-AI-optimized page using a toggle.
- What kind of queries works best with Web Guide? Web Guide is designed to work with longer or open-ended queries, such as "how to solo travel in Japan."
