Google announced that users who have opted into the Search Generative Experience (SGE) will be able to generate AI (artificial intelligence) images directly through the search bar.
SGE represents the future of web search, according to Google. Instead of selecting websites from a list, the system will generate a meaningful response to the user’s query, using the same data provided by the links in the list. Thursday’s updates are a natural extension of that experience, presenting only images (using technology ) instead of text. Users simply type in a description of the search item (e.g., Capybara breakfast, as in Google’s example) and, within minutes, the engine generates four alternative images for the user to choose from. Drive also allows users to export the generated images or download them.
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Additionally, users will be able to create images directly in Google Images. So if you’re searching (again, to use Google’s example) for “minimalist Halloween table settings” or “spooky dog houses,” you can type them into the search bar and have Google generate an image based on them. What’s really cool is that you can then trigger Google Lens on that generated image to search for actual products that most closely resemble the ones the computer suggested for you.
Of course, there are some restrictions that apply. To use it, you'll need to sign up for Google Labs and opt into the program . Additionally, the new image creation features will only be available in English-language apps within the US and only to users over the age of 18. This last requirement may seem unusual, given that Google has made efforts to make the program accessible to teens.
The company is also restricting the misuse of AI genetic technology. Users will be banned from creating photorealistic images of human faces. If you want a photorealistic Capybara cooking bacon, that’s no problem. But if you want Colonel Sanders cooking bacon, you’re going to run into problems.
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Finally, Google is using the SynthID developed by DeepMind and announced last month. SynthID is an invisible metadata watermark that proves the authenticity of an image and provides information about the creator and the date of creation. The new features will be available via the “Labs” tab (tap the bottle icon) in the Google app for iOS and Android, as well as on Chrome desktop for select users today.
Source: engadget.com
