Google plans to charge for AI-powered search engine

Google is reportedly planning to charge for premium features on its productive AI-powered search engine. The Financial Times reported, citing people with knowledge of the plan, that Google’s parent company Alphabet is considering charging for premium features on its productive AI-powered search engine. The company is currently looking at a variety of options, including adding AI-powered search features to its premium subscription services that provide access to the new Gemini AI assistant in Gmail and Docs. The traditional search engine will remain free, and ads will continue to appear next to search results for subscribers, the report said. “We are not working on or considering an ad-free search experience. As we have done many times before, we will continue to develop new premium services to enhance our subscription offerings across Google.” Google is also locked in a battle with two industry players that have caught the attention of the business world: OpenAI, creator of ChatGPT, and Microsoft, its backer.