Google will answer some questions instead of loading search results

For some time now, Google has added its own answers to the top of search results. In most cases, these widgets provide you with the information that you were looking for.

But on mobile, things are getting shaken up. Going forward, some searches will only show Google’s answer instead of loading an entire page of results, as spotted by Sergey Alakov (via 9to5Google).

Looking at the screenshots, you can see that searches that include calculations, unit conversions, and time don’t immediately load a full page of search results and instead just display Google’s built-in tool. Fortunately, there is a “show all results” button that will allow users to view results as usual.

Google is only cutting out other search results when it has an “extremely high confidence” that it can answer the user’s question accurately. While testing out this new functionality, we found the probability of Google not showing a complete list of search results to be hit or miss. It’s pretty clear that the search giant is still working to determine when it’s best only to show its widget and when to include third-party links. 

Interestingly enough, users first noticed Google experimenting with this “condensed view” back in February. As stated by Danny Sullivan, Google’s public liaison of search, the Silicon Valley company aims to “speed up load time.” By not initially loading a full page of search results, fewer resources are needed just to bring up Google’s answer.

Google Search’s “condensed view” should be available for almost everyone utilizing the company’s Android and iOS apps and the mobile web. Anyone using a desktop browser should continue to see full search results in addition to Google’s added answer.