Google Search to let you leave and read ‘Notes’ on web pages in India, US

An example of notes on a specific webpage (Image Source: Google)

The company said the feature is designed to work hand-in-hand with existing content on the web, adding a new layer of human insights to the user's search results and making it more useful.

It builds on the tech giant's existing efforts to help people find a wide range of perspectives on a particular topic on its search engine. This includes introducing a perspectives filter on the Google app and mobile web in May, that enabled users to see content only from individuals on social media platforms, forums and other communities.

In March, the company also debuted a news-related carousel feature called 'Perspectives' that appeared below the Top Stories section on the search results page, showing insights from a range of journalists, experts, and other relevant voices on the topic.

In a blogpost, Google says that Notes might help users get helpful context about an article or a topic so that they can better identify information that might be most useful for them. For instance, helping baking enthusiasts avoid first-timer mistakes, toning down the spice level on a recipe or figuring out which neighborhoods might be better for them in an article about a new city among others.

"Our goal with this new Labs experiment is to provide access to helpful tips about an article or topic from both experts and everyday people. This not only helps you narrow in on the most relevant information, but also may help you see what worked for others who have been there before" Google said in a blogpost.

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How does it work?

People who opt in to the experimental feature will see a new 'Notes' button appear below search results in the Google app and on articles on its content recommendation platform Discover. One can tap this button to see what others have said about the web page in a grid-like format. Users can like, save or share any of the notes.

One can also create a note to share their experience with the topic or article, pick from different visual styles and customise the note with elements such as text, stickers and photos. In the United States, users will also soon be able to add an AI-generated image to their note.

One can customise the note with different visual styles and elements such as text, stickers and photos (Image Source: Google)

Users can currently create notes only on Google's iOS and Android app but can view them across any device. Also, notes that users post will be added to their profile, that also contains media reviews they have posted on Google.

To address potential content moderation concerns, Google said it is using a combination of machine-learning algorithms and human reviewers to ensure that notes are "as safe, helpful and relevant as possible, and to protect against harmful or abusive content". Some topics which are deemed potentially unsafe or sensitive won't have an option to add notes, it said.

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Users will also have an option to report content in notes that they believe may break the law or doesn't meet Google's community guidelines.

"We know quality and safety are critical as we experiment with this new capability. Notes relies heavily on the protections developed over decades of bringing you reliable, helpful information on Search" the blogpost read "As with all Labs experiments, we’ll use this time to test and learn what works best for users before bringing these capabilities to a broader audience on Search"

In the coming months, Google said it will also "actively explore ways" to provide site owners insights into notes on their content. "We understand this is an important need for websites, and we’re committed to working with them to determine what tools and insights will be most beneficial" it said.

Following interests

Apart from Notes, Google also announced a range of improvements to its search product including rolling out new tailored experiences to users.

In the coming weeks, people in the United States will be able to follow interests and topics by tapping on the new "Follow" button in search results on the Google app and mobile browsers such as Chrome and Safari in English language. This could include their favorite sports team or more specific topics such as half marathon training.

After this, users will automatically start seeing articles and videos around the topic on Discover and Search through a dedicated 'New for You' section. One can also get notifications about topics they follow if Google finds "something particularly timely or important", the firm said. People will have the option to update or unfollow their interests at any time.

Later this year, Google said it will also make it easier for people to find and visit their favorite sites across various topics. (Image Source: Google)

"As with all information on Search, our systems will look to show the most helpful, relevant and reliable information possible when you follow a topic. We'll take the same approach to surfacing high quality information, based on factors like expertise, experience, authoritativeness and trustworthiness" the company said in a blogpost.

Later this year, Google said it will also make it easier for people to find and visit their favorite sites across various topics. "For example, if you’ve searched for something a few times, like DIY instructions for a backyard project, and keep returning to the same web page, our systems will recognize that and bring the site to the top of the search results page" it said.

The tech giant is also bringing the perspectives filter to desktop search, which will enable users to only see content from people on social media platforms, forums and other communities. Starting today, Google said it will also highlight information about the individual creator such as their social handle, follower count or the popularity of their content, to help users find content from their favorite creators.

"As part of this work, we’ve also rolled out a series of ranking improvements to show more first-person perspectives in results, so it’s easier to find this content across Search" Google said.