Google’s iOS App Adds Context-Aware Conversational Search

Google has recently updated its iOS app to add a new functionality that brings context-aware conversational search.

The main purpose of adding this new feature is to allow users to ask for more questions without altering their query. It is Google’s aim to create a truly “conversational” search in the context of a virtual assistant, and it is a great step towards that.

Google explains this new functionality in the following words:

“Say ‘Ok Google’ and ask a question while on any web page to get smart answers about what you are looking at. Try saying ‘Ok Google, where was he born?’ while reading an article about William Shakespeare.”

The new context-aware conversational search feature actually understand the context of a web page and answers further questions in reference to the main keyword. You can follow up queries with pronouns, without having to mention the main keyword every single time.

Greg Sterling from Search Engine Land tried this new functionality by asking Google to find the best hotels on Santorini, Greece. See the following image.

As you can see in the above image, he asked, “What are the best hotels there?” instead of “What are the best hotels in Santorini Greece?”

Since the app understand context-based searches, it wasn’t needed to remind that the user is searching the hotels on Santorini Greece.

As I said earlier, it is a good step towards making a truly conversational and context-based virtual assistant. The search results and the quality of answers may vary at the moment, but Google does understand the context of the question every single time.

There is, however, still a long way to go, but Google is taking all the right steps at the moment. Let’s see what it brings to the table next…