Latest news with #Search


CNBC
a day ago
- Business
- CNBC
Buy this megacap tech stock that's set to rally more than 20% due to AI, says Citizens
The ramp up in artificial intelligence may send shares of Alphabet higher in the coming months, according to Citizens. The investment firm upgraded the "Magnificent Seven" name to market outperform from market perform and set its price target at $220, implying nearly 27% upside from Thursday's close. "We believe AI is a net tailwind, with ChatGPT's impact too small today to move enough queries away from Google to materially impact results, while AI is expanding the search opportunity by answering a broader array of queries and extending monetization as AI better infers user intent," analyst Andrew Boone wrote in a note published Thursday. While the megacap tech stock has fallen more than 8% this year, it has rebounded about 6% over the past three months. It has also jumped more than 4% in the past week amid investor confidence in AI, which propelled other stocks linked to the industry like Nvidia higher this week as well. GOOGL 3M mountain GOOGL, 3-month Boone thinks that Google's AI Overviews – a feature that offers a summary of answers to search questions at the top of Search – will reach 4 billion monthly users by the third quarter of this year, seeing that the feature will cover about two-thirds of queries by the next quarter. That would be up from 1.5 billion monthly users in the first quarter of this year. "With AI Overviews becoming generally available in the U.S. as of May and leading to 10% query growth in testing, we believe AI is a net tailwind," he continued. "Net/net, AI is growing the use of search at a faster rate than ChatGPT is taking share." The analyst also projects that Search revenue growth will accelerate in the second as a result of AI supporting query growth and the development of Google's ad products. Wall Street is mostly bullish on Alphabet, as 43 out of 55 analysts have issued strong buy or buy ratings on the stock. Its nearly $202 consensus target also reflects more than 16% upside from here.
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Business Standard
a day ago
- Business Standard
Now, Google lets users customise Top Stories with their preferred websites
Google is testing a Labs feature that lets users customise their Top Stories feed by selecting favourite websites, starting in the US and India New Delhi Google has announced that it is rolling out a new experiment in Search Labs called Preferred Sources, allowing users to prioritise specific websites in the Top Stories section of Search results. Available in English for users in India and the US, this feature gives individuals more control over the news sources they frequently see, provided those sites are actively publishing new content. Once opted in, users can tap a star icon next to the 'Top Stories' header to pick their preferred websites. When relevant, updates from those sites will start appearing more often in your Top Stories section, alongside regular algorithm-selected content. These chosen sources will also be clearly labelled, and in some cases, users may see a separate 'From your sources' carousel below the main Top Stories section. What else is new in Google Search In addition to Preferred Sources, Google also outlined a handful of other features that aim to make Search more relevant and tailored to your needs, all of which can be managed through personalisation settings. Automatic content refresh: If you have searched a topic before, Google will now automatically show you new content since your last visit in sections like Top Stories or What People Are Saying. Your recent searches may also be flagged with a 'New update' tag to indicate fresh results. Quicker access to frequent sites: When personalisation is turned on, Search will promote websites you visit often higher in your results, if relevant to your query. Smarter sports tracking in Discover: Sports fans can choose their favourite teams, and Discover will show live scores, game highlights, and more. Personalised shopping: Search will let you save your favourite fashion styles during apparel or accessory searches, and Google Shopping will deliver a customised feed of products and deals based on your selected interests. Users can manage or disable all personalisation features at any time through their Google account settings.


Phone Arena
a day ago
- Phone Arena
Google Search has something new that could totally change what you see online
Google just introduced a new way to take more control over what you see in Search. It is still in the experimental phase for now, but it definitely looks like something with potential to stick around. Google is testing a new way to filter your Search results Search is still the place most of us go when we need to find something (there are around 16.4 billion searches on Google every day!). It is so second nature now that 'just Google it' is practically built into how we talk. But the big new thing here? An experiment called Preferred Sources. This feature is currently being tested in Search Labs (available in English in the US and India) and it basically lets you prioritize which sites you want to see more of in the Top Stories section. So, if you always read a particular tech blog, a certain news outlet or your favorite sports site, now you can make sure their stories show up more often. Here is how it works: if you are part of the experiment, you will see a little star icon next to the Top Stories heading. Tap that and you can choose your preferred sources – assuming those sites are actively publishing fresh content. Once set, their articles will show up more often when they are relevant to your search. They will also be clearly labeled and you will still get stories from a mix of other sources, too. News from your preferred sources will appear in the search results. | Image credit – Google Right now, this feature is only available to those who join the Labs experiment, but if past Google rollouts are anything to go by, it might not be long before this goes mainstream – at least in the US and India. But here's the thing… is this good or bad for news? On the surface, Preferred Sources sounds like a win. It helps cut out low-effort or spammy sites, lets you focus on outlets you trust and it could make your Search results way more relevant. But I can't help thinking – if you only ever read one side of the story, how do you know what's really going on? I mean, sure, it's great to see more from sources you like. But if everyone starts filtering out perspectives they don't agree with, that could seriously mess with how informed people actually are. Sometimes, the truth isn't on one side or the other – it is somewhere in the middle. And if we're all stuck in our own little echo chambers, it becomes harder to see the full picture. So yeah, I think the idea is smart and helpful, but it is also something we should use with a bit of caution. Trusted sources are great – just don't forget to occasionally peek outside the bubble. Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer


The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- The Irish Sun
‘Scary' Android change sparks fears as Google warns mystery AI will ‘control' WhatsApp and other apps even if it's OFF
ANDROID users have been left puzzled and concerned after Google announced plans to ramp up how AI works with their smartphone apps. And there appears to be some confusion about how to turn it all off. 1 Google is integrating AI into more of its apps Credit: Google The tech giant has been increasingly pushing its new Users have received an email informing them that Google has "made it easier for Gemini to interact with your device". "Gemini will soon be able to help you use Phone, Messages, WhatsApp and Utilities on your phone, whether your Gemini Apps Activity is on or off," the message reads. It goes on to say "if you don't want to use these features, you can turn them off in the Apps settings page" but doesn't explain specific steps or provide a link on how to do this. Read more about Android "If you have already turned these features off, they will remain off," they add. The vague wording has raised concerns online of Gemini "getting more control", one X user wrote. Another commented on a forum: "How scary is that? What could possibly go wrong? "I don't want anyone or anything interacting with my phone, unless your calling me or sending an email or text message." Most read in Tech A third added: "Google is desperate to get us to use their AI before we get used to another one." Google's email states that the changes will start to appear from July 7. WHAT CAN YOU USE GOOGLE GEMINI FOR? Here's the official tip list from Google... Go Live with Gemini to brainstorm ideas, simplify complex topics, and rehearse for important moments. Connect with your favourite Google apps like Search, Youtube, Google Maps, Gmail, and more Study smarter and explore any topic with interactive visuals and real-world examples Unlock a world of expertise and get tailored information about any topic Plan trips better and faster Create AI-generated images in seconds Get summaries, deep dives, and source links, all in one place Brainstorm new ideas, or improve existing ones Picture Credit: Google / The Sun


Entrepreneur
3 days ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Google Launches AI Mode in India to Tackle Complex Search Queries
Despite its promise, Google acknowledges that AI Mode is still in its early stages and may not always produce accurate results You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Google has launched its experimental 'AI Mode' in India, a new feature within Search aimed at helping users tackle more complex, multi-layered questions with the support of artificial intelligence (AI). Initially introduced in the United States earlier this year and rolled out to a broader audience during Google I/O 2025 (annual event), the tool is now available in India through Search Labs, with support in English. The feature builds on Google's existing AI Overviews and is powered by a custom version of Gemini 2.5. Unlike traditional search, AI Mode enables users to pose longer, more exploratory queries often two to three times the length of standard searches and receive context-rich, synthesised responses. Also, these answers are supported by links to relevant web pages for further reading. What's query fan-out? One of the key functions of AI Mode is its use of a method known as "query fan-out," which allows the system to break down complex questions into subtopics and issue multiple searches simultaneously. This enables more comprehensive responses that draw from deeper parts of the web. For example, users can seek guidance on planning a trip, comparing products, or navigating nuanced parenting or health concerns, with the ability to follow up with additional, refined queries. Voice input and image search Google is also making the experience multimodal, allowing users to interact not just through text but also via voice input and images. With India leading in the use of Google Lens globally, AI Mode integrates visual search capabilities, enabling users to ask questions about photos they take or upload for instance, identifying a plant and receiving step-by-step care instructions. Users can continue the conversation with follow-up queries, maintaining context throughout. While AI Mode offers responses generated through advanced language models, it is anchored by Google's existing information systems, including the Knowledge Graph and real-time product and shopping data. In scenarios where the AI response lacks sufficient confidence, the system defaults to standard web search results. The rollout in India is being framed as an experiment to understand user behaviour and improve the feature based on local needs and feedback. According to Google, AI Overviews, a precursor to AI Mode, are already used by more than 1.5 billion people each month and have driven increased engagement, especially in markets like the U.S. and India. Despite its promise, Google acknowledges that AI Mode is still in its early stages and may not always produce accurate results. The experimental rollout is intended to support iterative improvements while maintaining a commitment to surfacing high-quality web content.