When did Google get so weird?

Google search results now offer unsolicited emotional support instead of direct links, changing how information is retrieved.

On September 27, 2026, a user performing a Google search for "hes never coming over dario" encountered an unusual AI-generated overview. The user was seeking old tweets related to a niche 2010s basketball meme about NBA player Dario Saric. Instead of providing relevant search results or links, Google's AI overview interpreted the query as a personal plea about a romantic spurning by someone named Dario. The AI offered empathetic, consoling responses, suggesting the user needed a "digital friend." This behavior was unexpected and perplexing for a search engine, prompting the user to question Google's role and its deviation from its core function of organizing and providing information.

Google's AI search is moving beyond information retrieval to unsolicited emotional companionship, a significant departure from its original mission. This shift suggests an attempt to integrate more human-like interaction into search, potentially redefining user expectations for search engines.

The incident highlights the growing divergence between traditional search functionalities and the capabilities of generative AI, prompting questions about the necessity and user benefit of AI over-analyzing and "empathizing" with search queries. This approach could alienate users seeking straightforward information and indicate a broader trend of AI overreach in consumer technology.