Microsoft integrates Generative AI into Bing Search, mirroring Google's AI Overviews

Microsoft has unveiled a new generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool for Bing, which is currently being tested on a small percentage of user queries. As per a blog post published today, the new feature combines the power of generative AI and large language models to create bespoke and dynamic responses to users' search queries.

This development is similar to Google's AI Overviews, which generates AI-crafted summaries for Google Search queries and was introduced in May. Google's AI Overviews faced criticism for potentially disrupting web traffic, thereby reducing organic visits to publishers and impacting ad revenue. 

Microsoft acknowledged these concerns, stating, "We are continuing to look closely at how generative search impacts traffic to publishers. Early data indicates that this experience maintains the number of clicks to websites and supports a healthy web ecosystem."

Microsoft is gradually rolling out this new generative AI search product and plans to provide further updates in the coming months. Despite these advancements, Google remains the leader in the internet search market, holding 87 per cent of all searches, according to recent Statista data, with Bing in second place at 8 per cent.

( With Reuters inputs)