Google launched a new tab According to the Financial Times on Wednesday, which quoted sources familiar with the proposal, Google is thinking of charging for premium features on its search engine that uses generative artificial intelligence.
According to the article, the tech giant is considering several solutions, such as adding AI-powered search capabilities to its premium subscription services, which now grant users access to its new Gemini AI assistant in Gmail and Docs.
In extended trading, Alphabet’s shares fell by almost 1%.
As it looks to achieve traction in the rapidly evolving AI area, Google would be making a first for itself by putting any of its core products behind a paywall. According to the article, its conventional search engine would stay free to use, and advertisements would still show up next to search results, even for subscribers.
“An ad-free search experience is not something we are developing or exploring. In an email to Reuters, the company said, “As we’ve done many times before, we’ll continue to build new premium capabilities and services to enhance our subscription offerings across Google.”
Google, which developed the core technology behind the current AI boom, is also engaged in conflict with two major competitors in the market: OpenAI, the company that created ChatGPT, and Microsoft (MSFT.O), which supports it.
