Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGA) can now create AI images based on Google Search queries. This is very similar toBing’simage-generating functionality—simply enter a prompt like “draw a chicken in the style of Van Gogh” into Google Search, and you’ll be met with four AI-generated images. To enjoy this feature, you mustopt into SGAthrough Search Labs.
This is a very intuitive take on AI image generation. If you use Google as your default search engine, you may type a prompt into your address bar and get immediate results. There’s no need for a special webpage or subscription, and in some situations, you don’t even need to think of a clever prompt. If Google detects that you’re searching for photos, artistic inspiration, or other things that may call for a bit of AI magic, it will ask if you want to generate some images. You’ll also see a “Generate” button crammed into some Google Images results.
Presumably, Google is using itsImagentext-to-image model to achieve this functionality. Imagen isn’t the same thing as DALL-E, so there may be some value in jumping between Google Search and Bing when producing AI images. You may find that one model handles certain prompts or styles better than the other. Microsoftjust rolled out DALL-E 3 image generationin Bing Chat and the Bing Image Creator, but not in the regular web search, which is what Google is trying to do here.
Along with image-generation functionality, Google Search can now create written drafts based on your search prompt. A simple prompt like “write a resignation letter” will do the trick, and you’re able to refine the draft before importing it into Google Docs or Gmail.
These new AI tools are subject to Google’sprohibitive use policy. The company says that it will block “harmful or misleading content” from being generated, and it will label all AI-generated images with identifying metadata. The long-promisedAbout this Imagetool is still in development, though. To test Google Search’s AI features,opt into SGAthrough Search Labs—you’re able to only opt in from the Chrome browser or the Google app oniOSandAndroid.
