Ruth Poor: Google Focuses On AI To Improve Online Search

JAKARTA Alphabet, Google's parent company known for innovations such as autonomous cars and quantum computing, is now betting heavily on the field closest to its core business: online search.

According to Ruth Porat, Alphabet's President and Chief Investment Officer, the application of artificial intelligence (AI) to search services that have made Google a big name is the company's biggest move right now. This was conveyed by Porat at a Reuters NEXT conference in New York on Tuesday, December 10.

"We are trying to meet users wherever they want to be next," Porat said in an interview with Reuters Editor-in-Chief Alessandra

Alphabet, most of the annual revenue of more than 300 billion US dollars (Rp4.7 quadrillion) comes from search-related ads, has integrated AI-based summarys to answer questions that have no clear answers. This move is a response to competition from OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, despite being faced with the challenge of AI halusination' where this technology sometimes produces misinformation.

Porat menegaskan bahwa pencarian akan terus berkembang, seiring dengan investasi Alphabet di bidang lain seperti Google Cloud.

As a breast cancer survivor, Porat also highlighted Alphabet's various health efforts, including innovation through the AI system "AlphaFold" which is able to predict protein folding. This technology is applied to drug discovery through the Isomorphic Labs division.

In addition, AI is also used to save vision for those who risk loss of sight, as well as free medical personnel from administrative duties so that they can focus more on patients.

"AI can restore the human side in the relationship between doctors and patients," said Porat, citing the doctor's own hopes.

Alphabet is expected to spend 50 billion US dollars (Rp797 trillion) on investment in chips, data centers, and other capital expenditures by 2024. However, Porat emphasized that this investment should be based on tangible results.

"We need to make sure this investment generates profits," he said, calling AI technology a "generational opportunity."

With a strong focus on online and health search innovations, Google shows that AI is not just a tool, but also a strategy for the future.