Google just launched two AI-powered features that reshape how users discover trending content across Search and Discover. The upgrades include smart previews for trending topics in Discover and a "What's new" sports feed in Search, marking Google's latest push to keep users engaged with fresh web content through AI curation.
Google is doubling down on AI-powered content discovery with two new features that promise to transform how users find and engage with trending information across its platforms. The company announced the rollout in a blog post that signals a major shift toward AI-curated content experiences.
The first feature upgrades Google Discover with AI-powered previews that adapt to trending topics users care about. Instead of static content cards, users now see brief previews they can expand for more detailed information, complete with links to explore content across the web. According to Google's internal testing, this approach makes it significantly easier for users to catch up on stories from a diverse range of publishers and creators.
This isn't just a minor interface tweak - it's Google positioning itself as the intelligent middleman between users and the broader web ecosystem. The feature has already launched in the United States, South Korea, and India, suggesting Google is testing market reception before a wider global rollout.
The timing couldn't be more strategic. As users increasingly rely on AI to filter through information overload, Google is ensuring its platforms remain the primary gateway to web content discovery. The expandable preview format strikes a balance between giving users quick insights while driving traffic back to original publishers - a critical consideration as the company faces ongoing debates about content attribution and publisher revenue.
Meanwhile, Google Search is getting its own AI makeover with a sports-focused feature that taps into users' appetite for real-time updates. When users search for players or teams on mobile devices, they'll soon see a "What's new" button that reveals a curated feed of trending updates and articles about the latest action.
This sports integration represents Google's recognition that certain content categories drive particularly high engagement. Sports fans are notoriously hungry for the latest news, scores, and analysis, making them an ideal testing ground for AI-curated content feeds. The feature begins rolling out in the US "in the coming weeks," according to the announcement.
Both features reflect Google's broader strategy to use artificial intelligence not just for search relevance, but for content curation and user retention. By surfacing trending content through AI-powered feeds, Google keeps users within its ecosystem longer while still directing them to external websites - a delicate balance that's become increasingly important as the company navigates antitrust scrutiny.
