Microsoft has offered an early glimpse of Bing's new generative search capabilities, currently being tested on a small percentage of user queries. The new feature combines large and small language models with Bing's search results to create a dynamic and tailored response to users' queries.
When a user enters a query, Bing's generative search creates a bespoke and dynamic response. The system understands the search query, reviews millions of sources of information, dynamically matches content, and generates search results in an AI-generated layout.
Check out this example of searching for "What is a spaghetti western?". You'll see an AI-generated overview of the film subgenre, including its history, top examples, and relevant links. The regular search results remain prominent, with additional AI-generated content enhancing the page.
Microsoft emphasizes that this new feature is designed to complement, not replace, traditional search results. The regular search results continue to be prominently displayed on the page, maintaining the familiar search experience users expect.
The company has also focused on optimizing accuracy in Bing, applying insights gained from their previous AI implementations. Early data suggests that this new experience maintains the number of clicks to websites, supporting a healthy web ecosystem.
Given the missteps that Google has made with the release of AI Search Overviews, Microsoft is taking a cautious approach with the rollout of this new feature. The company says that they are committed to an iterative process, slowly rolling out the feature while gathering feedback to create a refined experience before broader availability