Google is poised to beef up its search engine with flashy artificial intelligence features that will enable it to interact with users in more conversational, human-like ways, according to the tech giant’s boss.

CEO Sundar Pichai said that Google’s incorporation of AI into its ubiquitous search tools signals the company’s commitment to competing against the likes of Microsoft-backed OpenAI and others.

“The opportunity space, if anything, is bigger than before,” Pichai told The Wall Street Journal.

Google has been an industry leader in developing large language models (LLMs) that can generate responses to prompts that resemble those of humans.

The company will now work to use the technology to enhance user experience on its search engine.

“Will people be able to ask questions to Google and engage with LLMs in the context of search? Absolutely,” Pichai told The Journal.

Microsoft recently rolled out its enhanced version of the Bing search engine which is now powered by ChatGPT, the chatbot introduced with great fanfare by the Silicon Valley research firm OpenAI.

The rise of ChatGPT shook the tech world after the AI-powered bot demonstrated advanced conversational abilities that mimicked those of humans.

The technology has been shown to be capable of composing emails, essays, and software code — stoking fears that it could replace people who work in knowledge-based industries.

The generative AI feature is credited with helping Bing exceed 100 million daily active users last month, according to a Microsoft blog post.

After announcing the rollout of its new AI-powered search engine, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said the new advances are “going to reshape every software category we know,” including search, much like earlier innovations in personal computers and cloud computing.

Along with adding it to Bing, Microsoft is also integrating the chatbot technology into its Edge browser. 

Pichai indicated that he welcomes the competition.

In response to pressure from its competitor, Pichai earlier this year unveiled the experimental AI chatbot Bard, a controversial new service that is available exclusively to a group of “trusted testers” before its universal release later this year.

According to Pichai, Bard “seeks to combine the breadth of the world’s knowledge with the power, intelligence and creativity of our large language models.”

“It draws on information from the web to provide fresh, high-quality responses,” according to Pichai.

Google and other tech giants are in the midst of a transition that includes cost-cutting and paring down payroll due to economic headwinds.

The company recently laid off 12,000 workers.

It has also announced cutbacks of employee perks including closure of its “micro-kitchens” that were stocked with free drinks and snacks.

Google will also cut back on spending for company-issued laptops and other equipment.