Google’s AI search update breaks basic word lookups

Google’s redesigned search experience is experiencing novel problems: users discovered that searching for the word “disregard” and similar terms can return a nearly empty AI-generated response. Russell Brandom reports for TechCrunch that the new interface buries traditional search results far below the fold, replacing them with AI summaries that, in this case, provide no useful information at all.

Google recently overhauled its Search product, placing AI-generated summaries at the top of results pages. The classic list of links, long the backbone of the product, now appears much further down. For most searches, this approach may work adequately. For edge cases like looking up a single word, it fails visibly.

When searching “disregard,” users see a large block of empty space where the AI response should appear. A link to Merriam-Webster is technically present but requires scrolling past that blank area. The same search in Microsoft Bing, which has taken a less aggressive approach to AI integration, returns useful results immediately.

Brandom notes that in nearly 15 years as a tech journalist, he has never encountered a situation where a Bing result outperformed its Google equivalent. He describes the current Google experience as “a broken tool.”

The incident highlights a broader tension in the AI search race. Companies are pushing AI-first interfaces quickly, but real-world usage exposes unexpected gaps. Google has not yet publicly commented on the specific issue.