For the last 20 years Google has become so synonymous with the Internet. That we are at the point where we use the word Googling, in order to describe running an internet search. So Google’s latest announcements at this year’s I/O Developers Conference, could well be a major game changer for the internet and how we use it.
While Google discussed how Artificial Intelligence (AI), was to be integrated into multiple services from Ask Maps to Gemini. As I don’t use these services, I’ll admit I have zero interest in them. However as I still use Google Search. What caught my eye was Google’s vision as to how we will browse the internet in the future.
At the moment, most people will start an internet search using Bing or Google using queries that contain keywords. The search engine will then produce a list of results, based on those keywords. However, in order to actually see what we were looking for, we are required to click on a link that will take us to where that information is stored on the internet.
So in order to get the best search results. We have all had to learn how to do basic database querying. A problem that Google thinks it may have fixed, as it’s something that is not particularly intuitive, which can slow you down and make you less productive.
What will be changing is Google Search?
While Google introduced limited AI integration into it search engine back in 2025. At this year’s I/O Conference, Google announced that AI is to be fully integrated into Google search. Something that Google hopes will reshape how we all use the internet as we will no longer need to rely on keyword searching.
So from the users perspective, rather than typing keywords into the search engine. Google Search will use more conversational text as the basis for its queries. Which then opens up the ability to ask follow up questions, in order to fine tune a search.
However Google will also be adding new “information agents”, which are search queries that can be configured to constantly check the web for new information and alerts. For example by using something called Proactive Tracking, you can create a search for your next holiday that will receive constant updates regarding any changes to the price of the flight.
Isn’t AI already in Google Search?
What makes this years announcement different, is that Google will be removing its traditional list of search results. Replacing it with articles created by Artificial Intelligence, using a rendition of an answer curated from various internet sources.
So how is this going to change the internet?
Historically, the internet was created by universities in order to share research and data. So the internet did not really start to take off until after the year 2000, with the introduction of Google Search, and then a little later Adsense.
This was because for the first time, Google Search allowed us to easily find what we were looking for. Then through Adsense, there was a mechanism to ensure that content creators had a way to get paid, all the while keeping information free. Which in turn then allowed for the creation of more content.
However, what worries me is that the changes Google will be making to its search. Will mean that when you use google search, you will no longer need to leave the search page in order to find the information you are looking for. So because you no longer need to visit a website, the content creator does not get paid or acknowledged for their work.
So if Google takes its new AI search to its logical conclusion. Will content creators either stop sharing knowledge, or start to place information behind paywalls that AI can’t access? Two factors that could ultimately dilute and reduce the quality and pool of information on the internet.
Content we’re releasing this month.
You may have noticed we have been making changes to the website. Something that we were forced to do, because it suddenly became very unstable due to legacy code. So while the site is now functional, there are parts that still need work, or are yet to be worked on. So please bear with us, as we try and get everything fixed by the end of the month.
Keeping this in mind, this month’s releases will be more limited than we initially intended. Therefore, at the beginning of the month, we will be publishing another video from our series What’s in my tech toolkit.
Then because we recently managed to get hold of a second hand, Lenovo 14 inch Chromebook Plus. Before we started to use it we wanted to do a clean install. So the second video of the month will look at how you make recovery media for a Chromebook.
Then as it’s not immediately obvious how you actually get the recovery media to run on a Chromebook. We will be releasing an updated video on how you make a Chromebook boot to recovery media. Just be warned that if you do, it will wipe your Chromebook back to its factory defaults.
Finally as we had a video request, we’re going to release a short video on the configuration of the Synology Photos app, in order to allow you to access your photos remotely via the internet.