Google AI Search Fails to Deliver: New Study Reveals Poor User Experience
New research published in August confirms that Google's AI Search reduces clicks to publisher websites and presents a poor user experience, contradicting Google's assertions that people love AI search.
The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and Northeastern University, Massachusetts, involved 1,100 participants who were randomly assigned to use either regular Google Search or AI Mode for seven days.
Results showed that AI Mode kept users trapped within Google's AI search experience, reducing their interaction with websites. In fact, when AI Overviews were removed, clicks to external websites increased.
The researchers found that exposure to AI Mode impacted users' search activity negatively, while exposure to No AI Search had no impact on search sessions per day. Users who used AI Mode also felt worse about Google Search and had reduced trust in it.