Ex-Google Manager Compares AI Overviews to Failed Google+

Intro

A former Google product manager has criticized the company's current focus on AI, calling it a "panic reaction" driven by the fear of falling behind competitors. Scott Jenson, who recently left Google after 16 years, took to LinkedIn to express his concerns about Google's AI projects, describing them as "poorly motivated and driven by mindless panic that as long as it had 'AI' in it, it would be great."

Jenson's Critique of Google's AI Strategy

Jenson argues that Google's vision of creating an AI assistant for its ecosystem is motivated more by the fear of competitors than by genuine user needs. He draws a parallel to the ill-fated Google+ launch, which he says was a "similar hysterical reaction" to Facebook's rise. "This exact thing happened 13 years ago with Google+ (I was there for that fiasco as well). That was a similar hysterical reaction but to Facebook," Jenson wrote.

Lack of User-Driven Motivation

Jenson claims that Google's current AI strategy lacks true motivation for addressing user needs. This sentiment is echoed in a recent Gizmodo article, which described this year's Google I/O developer conference as "the most boring ever," criticizing the company for failing to clarify how its new AI technology, Gemini, would integrate into existing products and enhance the user experience.

Controversy Over AI Overviews

One prime example of Google's AI overreach, according to critics, is the AI overviews feature, which generates summaries to answer search queries by ingesting information from across the web. This move has sparked legal battles, with publishers accusing Google of violating intellectual property rights and unfairly profiting from their content without permission.

Turning Off AI Overviews

While Google doesn’t provide an official setting to turn off AI overviews, a workaround involves using browser extensions or configuring Chrome to go directly to web search results, bypassing the AI-generated summaries. Here are the steps:

1. Open Chrome settings by clicking the three dots in the top-right corner and selecting "Settings."

2. Click on the "Search Engine" tab.

3. Under "Manage search engines and site search," click "Add" to create a new entry.

4. Enter the following details:

   • Name: Google (Web)

   • Shortcut: www.google.com

   • URL: {google:baseURL}/search?udm=14&q=%s

5. Click "Add."

6. Make the new "Google (Web)" entry the default.

After following these steps, Chrome will default to showing regular web search results instead of AI overview summaries.

Tensions Over Data Usage

The controversy surrounding AI overviews highlights the tension between tech companies and content creators over the use of online data for AI training. Publishers argue that Google's AI summaries could siphon website traffic, threatening revenue streams that rely on search referrals. This debate underscores the need for updated frameworks to balance innovation with fair compensation for content creators, maintaining a sustainable open internet ecosystem.

FAQ

What concerns has Scott Jenson raised about Google’s AI focus?

Scott Jenson, a former Google product manager, has expressed concerns that Google’s current AI focus is more of a "panic reaction" to stay ahead of competitors rather than addressing user needs. He critiques Google’s AI initiatives as poorly motivated and driven by a fear of letting others get ahead.

How does Scott Jenson compare Google’s AI strategy to past projects?

Jenson parallels Google’s current AI focus with the company’s response to Facebook years ago with Google+. He describes both as "hysterical reactions" driven by competition, which, in the case of Google+, resulted in a product that failed to meet its objectives.

Why are content creators concerned about Google’s AI overviews?

Content creators worry that Google’s AI overviews, which generate summaries by ingesting web content, could reduce site traffic. They argue that this practice is unfair as it uses their content without permission and impacts their revenue streams that rely on search referrals.

How can users turn off Google’s AI overviews in Chrome?

Although no official setting exists to disable AI overviews, users can use a workaround by enabling a specific Chrome setting or using a browser extension.

Steps:

1. Open Chrome settings by clicking the three dots in the top-right corner and selecting "Settings."

2. In the Settings window, click on the "Search Engine" tab on the left side.

3. Under the "Search Engine" section, click "Manage search engines and site search."

4. Scroll down to the "Site search" area and click "Add" to create a new entry.

5. Enter the following details:

   • Name: Google (Web)

   • Shortcut: www.google.com

   • URL: {google:baseURL}/search?udm=14&q=%s

6. Click "Add."

7. Set "Google (Web)" as the default.

This will force Chrome to skip AI-generated overviews and show the classic list of web links.