AI Mode gets agent capabilities in the USA

If you want to book a table in a restaurant, you can now leave this directly to AI Mode in Google Search – initially in the USA. Google uses the recurring example of the AI task "reserve a table" in the blog post. It also states that AI Mode will now be available in 180 countries – without these new agent capabilities, and not in EU countries.

In the future, AI Mode will also be able to take into account the number of guests, a radius in which the restaurant should be located and the desired type of meal when selecting a table. According to Google, by searching several booking platforms, the AI Mode agent will then find free tables and list them in an overview. The searcher can then choose from the list. However, the final booking must be approved by a human.

The mode is based on Google's Project Mariner, a combination of real-time search, Google's gigantic database, the Knowledge Graph, and Google Maps. However, the agent capabilities have so far only been used by selected partners. As with every new AI function that has revolutionized the web to date, these include OpenTable, Ticketmaster, Booksy, SeatGeek and others. The latter are not yet known in Germany. Booksy, for example, is an online service that can be used to book appointments with hairdressers and beauty salons.

Google says that the AI will soon be able to make customer appointments for you or buy tickets for events. An agent in the telephone queue before making an appointment with another agent – sounds like the future. In the US, preferences are also moving into AI Mode – here, too, there are restrictions, the first of which concerns preferences relating to food. Google wants to help you find new restaurants and cafés that suit you. Personalization can be deactivated.

AI Mode in 180 countries

AI Mode can, of course, also take on other tasks that may have a greater impact on content creators and searchers. And these capabilities are now also available in a further 180 countries around the world. According to Google, AI Mode can primarily answer more complex and longer queries. For example, product comparisons, planning a short trip or understanding a process. However, there is still the restriction that AI Mode only works in English everywhere.

With AI Mode, website operators worry that their content will no longer be viewed equally. Google uses it to provide searchers with an answer in the overview without having to visit a website. As a result, content creators may miss out on clicks and therefore advertising revenue.

(emw)