Google is showing AI-generated images in some of the knowledge panels they show in Google Search. Google is not creating these images; they come from images on third-party sites. And honestly, I kind of like it, at least in some cases.
If you search for [Beethoven] on Google Search, you might get an AI-generated image of Beethoven showing up in the knowledge panel. Jess Joyce posted an example of this on X and this is also on Reddit.
Here is that screenshot:
Technically, Google is just sourcing this image from lvbeethoven.com and it is a pretty cool image – so I am all for it.
This is not new, Juan González Villa spotted something similar in March:
First Google result for Katheryn Winnick is currently a fan art drawing someone posted on Reddit 🙈
Maybe worth taking a look, @searchliaison pic.twitter.com/zuBFqtpmgc
— Juan González Villa (@seostratega) March 22, 2024
That image no longer shows in the knowledge panel on Google Search.
I guess it depends on the knowledge panel and if an AI-image would be inappropriate versus something fun and useful?