"Google Search is now AI Search" equals the worst thing to happen to the internet since social media, except this time we can all see it coming

Date:
Fri, 22 May 2026 16:30:00 +0000

Description:
At this year's Google I/O, one of the biggest changes presented by the
Silicon Valley giant was to Search. Here's why you should care about what comes next.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter It's no overstatement to say that AI has fundamentally changed everything we thought we knew about the internet, and that's no more apparent than in Google 's own drastic changes
to Search announced at this year's Google I/O event .

In case you missed it, the tagline that the Silicon Valley giant hinged much of its two-hour presentation on was this: "Google Search is now AI Search."
So what does that mean? We've shared our teardown of new features coming to Google Search and its results page if you want the nitty-gritty, or you can watch our latest podcast episode where myself, Hamish Hector, Lance Ulanoff, Axel Metz and Matthew Bolton discuss the keynote in full. Latest Videos From You may like 'This new search box does not mean that you'll only get AI responses': Google's Search makeover incorporates yet more AI, but Google promises to leave room for classic results Googles AI will now show a preview of perspectives from Reddit and social media Agentic Search Optimization reshapes brand visibility in AI search

What I'm more interested in is how this changes things for you, the reader
who finds new content and answers to their burning questions using the
world's largest search engine. Here's how it might change the way you use the internet. Google Search changes forever, Gemini gets HUGE upgrades, and what this all means for iPhone 18 - YouTube Watch On Trust in me, just in me But first, let's explore the "why". Google doesn't just want to be the homepage
of your internet browser anymore; now, it feels like it wants to be the internet. Its largest-ever changes to the Search box and results page mark a huge transition from Google being a gateway to more content towards bypassing the content creators altogether.

Despite Google's assurances during I/O that trusted sources and websites will still be suggested as part of its new, expanded and widget-laden AI Overview, and of course, users will still be able to see a list of results as usual beneath it, there's a glaring omission to the big picture; how will Google Search source reliable information when those sources no longer exist?

The fact of the matter is, websites like TechRadar rely heavily on Google Search results to connect with our audiences around the world, yet with all these changes to Google, publications are seeing fewer and fewer referrals. It's had an immediate effect; some of my favorite tech and gaming
publications have already shuttered, good journalists are out of work, and there remains a massive question mark over how we adapt to this rapidly changing space and that should matter to you, too. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Because where on earth will Google get its reliable information and the "1 Billion facts" it updates every minute if there's no one left to publish
them? (Image credit: TechRadar) Heard it through the grapevine You might have noticed already, but Google relies heavily on sites like YouTube and
community sites like Reddit to inform its results; both of which are
platforms I use regularly for the same thing. The difference is that I, as a discerning reader, can understand the difference between user-generated content that holds bias and information presented by regulated, accredited media outlets.

We don't always get things right, and we're also not free of bias entirely, but journalists are a darn sight more likely to present a balanced viewpoint than your average Joe because of the various hoops we need to jump through to maintain our trusted status something Google itself has fostered and encouraged with some of its SEO guidance over the years. What to read next Using ChatGPT for Iran war news changed how I trust information I tried Googles new live AI search and it barely feels like search anymore How AI search is shifting brand visibility from SEO to data verification

Cutting out as much of the technical jargon as possible, what this means for you , dear reader, is that the best-worst case scenario is asking Google to help troubleshoot your smart home set-up or PC build could surface advice
from a post made 7 years ago on Reddit by someone who maybe has the chops to give that advice. But at worst, it means you could be manipulated by
nefarious actors gaming the system. It's something the BBC has just recently explored; in just 20 minutes, journalist Thomas Germain was able to
manipulate both Gemini and ChatGPT into believing he was a world-champion hot dog eater . In his more recent coverage, he notes how Google is fighting back against misinformation with harsh penalties to brands and sites seen to be manipulating search results, but to do that at scale across user-generated sites will be a tough ask.

So, instead, a brand might opt to pay a YouTuber or TikToker, or create a couple dozen bot accounts on Reddit to push the same message; ours is the
best phone, the best web-hosting service, the best VPN. That becomes doubly nerve-racking if you're making health, finance or safety-related queries and unknowingly take advice from manipulative or untrustworthy sources.

What can you do about it? Precious little, if you plan to keep using Google Search regardless. Switching search engines is an option, or just refusing to engage with AI Mode altogether works, but personally, I'd like to hope you
all develop your own idea of what a trusted source looks like and go straight to them next time you've got a query. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/ai-platforms-assistants/google-search-is-now-ai-sear ch-feels-like-a-digital-reimagining-of-dont-look-up-but-the-asteroid-is-reddit


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