The New Search Experience

Say you are in Mumbai, rushing to a meeting, and the last thing you want is to be crammed into an overcrowded local train. You type: “Fastest route to [destination] with less crowded trains.” Instead of a list of links, your search engine gives you an instant AI-powered response. It checks live congestion data, suggests a metro-bus combination, and considers your usual travel preferences. Need a tweak? Just ask: “Any option with minimal walking?” and the AI refines the plan, maybe adding an air-conditioned bus that gets you close enough without the hassle.

This is the new search experience—personalised, conversational, and context-aware.

No more sifting through multiple websites. Google and Microsoft Bing are leading this shift, integrating AI-powered engines that don’t just fetch answers but anticipate needs.

Google’s soon-to-launch AI Mode will sit alongside traditional search, offering an interactive assistant powered by Gemini 2.0. It provides summaries, suggests refinements, and allows for multi-step, personalised searches. Bing Copilot, powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4, takes it even further, transforming search into an ongoing conversation where users refine queries in real time. Users can even generate AI-powered itineraries and custom visuals with built-in DALL·E integration.

Meanwhile, AI-first search startups like Perplexity AI and You.com are pushing the boundaries with privacy-focused, ad-free search models that offer multi-source, real-time insights. Search is no longer just about finding links; it’s about having a conversation with an informed guide—one that truly understands you.

AI as Lab Partner

Google’s AI Co-Scientist, built on Gemini 2.0, is an AI-powered research assistant designed to help scientists generate hypotheses, analyse literature, and propose experiments. It processes vast data to provide ranked research proposals with explanations and sources. Early collaborations with Stanford and Imperial College have shown its potential in gene transfer studies and drug discovery.

Alibaba Enters AI Race

Alibaba has announced the release of an open-source AI video-generating model, allowing developers worldwide to create and modify AI-powered video tools. The move positions Alibaba as a key player in the generative AI space, rivalling models from OpenAI and Google. By making the technology publicly available, Alibaba aims to accelerate AI-driven content creation while fostering collaboration.

Anthropic’s AI Model

Anthropic, an AI research company, has launched Claude 3.7 Sonnet, a smarter AI model with “extended thinking mode” for better problem-solving. It performs well in coding and web development, ranking high on key tests. The company also introduced Claude Code, a tool that helps developers with coding tasks directly from their terminals.

AI researchAlibabaAnthropicartificial intelligenceGemini 2.0GoogleTech talk