The Business Guide toAI & Search

A Large Language Model (LLM) is an AI system trained on large datasets to predict text and generate human-like responses. This is the name given to a machine that can train on vast amounts of data, in order to predict the next likely word in a sequence of words, in order to simulate a human response to any query posed to it.

AI systems work by analyzing data using algorithms to find patterns and generate predictions or responses. They are instructed to scan troves of data by way of text, images, videos, etc. The AI model then processes this data using sets of rules called algorithms, which help identify patterns and correlations within this data. Once the patterns are established, the AI model generates decisions, predictions, or simple query answers; such as classifying an image, or generating a passage of text based on a prompt for which it has the data set with which to provide an adequate answer.

Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence designed to create new content rather than simply analyze or categorize existing data. It can produce text, images, audio, and even code by learning patterns from the data it’s trained on. Traditional AI, on the other hand, focuses on recognizing patterns, making predictions, or performing specific tasks, such as classifying images or recommending products, without generating entirely new material. Examples of generative AI include ChatGPT for text, DALL·E for images, and MusicLM for music.

Google’s AI Overview is an AI-generated summary of content that appears at the top of search results. It gathers information from multiple sources and summarizes it into a single answer, often including bullet points, sub-sections, and sometimes step-by-step instructions to help users complete a task. This Overview appears above the regular search listings. If Google can’t find enough sources to create a summary, the Overview may not appear.

AI Overviews cite their sources with links at the end, allowing users to trace back the origin of the content, positioning those websites as authoritative sources. Bing offers a similar feature through Microsoft CoPilot, showing a summary box at the top of search results. However, AI Overviews are controversial because they can make dubious claims or conclusions and may reduce traffic to source websites, since users may get their answer directly from the Overview without visiting the original site.