Google’s AI Now Books Events and Beauty Appointments
▼ Summary
– Google launched new agentic capabilities in AI Mode that help users book event tickets and beauty/wellness appointments directly within Search.
– The feature searches multiple websites for real-time options matching user requests, like concert tickets or dinner reservations, and presents a curated list.
– These capabilities are available to U.S. users in Google’s Search Labs experimental program, with higher limits for AI Pro and Ultra subscribers.
– Google emphasizes this is an early experiment rooted in quality and safety systems but may still make mistakes.
– AI Mode was first introduced in March to compete with services like Perplexity AI and has since expanded to over 180 countries with added features like Canvas and Google Lens integration.
Google has rolled out a significant upgrade to its AI Mode, introducing the ability to book event tickets and schedule beauty or wellness appointments directly through its search interface. This enhancement allows users to make specific, multi-step requests, with the AI scouring numerous websites to present real-time, curated options that match their criteria before linking them to the final booking page.
For instance, someone looking for concert tickets can now type a query like, “find me 2 cheap tickets for the Shaboozey concert coming up. prefer standing floor tickets.” The system will then perform a live search across various ticketing platforms, compile a list of available options that fit the budget and seating preference, and provide direct links to complete the purchase.
These new agentic capabilities are currently accessible to all users in the United States who have joined Google’s experimental program, Search Labs. The company has also noted that subscribers to its Google AI Pro and Ultra tiers will enjoy higher usage limits for these advanced functions.
This development builds upon the agentic features first introduced to AI Mode back in August, which initially focused on helping users secure restaurant reservations. With that functionality, a person can ask the AI to “find me a dinner reservation for 3 people this Friday after 6pm around Logan square. craving ramen or bibimbap.” The AI searches multiple reservation services to find real-time availability, presenting a tailored list of restaurants that meet all the specified conditions.
On its Search Labs page, Google emphasized that its main goal for Search is to connect people with reliable, high-quality information. The company stated that this new mode is built upon its foundational safety and quality systems but cautions that it remains an early-stage experiment and may occasionally produce errors.
First launched in March to compete with services like Perplexity AI and OpenAI’s searchable ChatGPT, AI Mode has since expanded to over 180 countries. Google has been consistently adding new features, such as a recent Canvas tool that helps users create study plans and organize information across multiple sessions in a side panel. Another recent addition allows the use of Google Lens to ask questions about content visible on a user’s desktop screen.
(Source: TechCrunch)
