Key Points
Google is considering charging for new premium" features run by artificial intelligence, the Financial Times reported, marking the first time it would put any of its core product behind a paywall..
The tech giant is mulling options such as adding certain AI search features to its premium subscription services, the FT reported, citing three unnamed people familiar with the plans..
Engineers are developing the technology to roll out the service but executives havent decided whether or when to launch it, according to the report..
Teams regularly ran benchmark tests on random queries internally to measure how quickly Googles search engine could deliver results but they didnt run the same tests for Googles AI-powered search product in part because it was so costly, the former staffer said..
A Google spokesperson said the company has been focused on improving issues such as latency and adding new features, and that cost hasnt influenced the companys decisions about how fast to incorporate more AI into search..