Google Says Search Enters New Era With Conversational AI Features

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.—Google unveiled conversational features for its search engine and made its chatbot Bard widely available for English speakers, a show of force as it races Microsoft and a growing number of startups to win over consumers with artificial-intelligence products.

Calling the moment a new era in search, Google introduced a set of features—called Search Generative Experience—that use AI programs to provide lengthier summaries in response to a range of queries. The features invite follow-up questions, opening a new interface allowing users to hold conversations with the search engine.