Google I/O 2021 Reveals MUM AI Technology and New Search Tools
Google unveils Multitask Unified Models (MUM) to tackle complex search queries and introduces new video schema markups for SEOs. The virtual event also highlights upcoming desktop page experience ranking updates and the experimental Chrome Follow button.
Google I/O 2021 brings major Search announcements, headlined by the introduction of Multitask Unified Models (MUM). This new AI milestone builds on existing architectures to solve complex information challenges by cross-training across languages and tasks. While these advancements eventually help Google better understand web pages and user queries, the changes are not yet live and require no immediate action from website owners.
For developers and SEOs, the event introduces two new schema markups designed for video content. The Clip markup is now widely available, while the SeekToAction markup enters beta, both allowing Google to highlight key moments in Search results. Additionally, Google details how the upcoming page experience ranking changes will apply to desktop search results, expanding upon the previously announced mobile updates.
The virtual developer festival also showcases upcoming consumer features like Google Lens, AR in Search, and an "About this Result" panel. In Chrome Canary, Google launches an experimental Follow button that allows users to subscribe to websites directly from the browser. Various dedicated sessions further explore the business impact of Core Web Vitals and modern immersive storytelling techniques for the web.