Google LLC launched a new search experiment today called “Notes” that will let users add notes to web search listings in the Google app and also read what other users searching the same subject wrote.

The company also announced a feature that will allow users to opt in to follow search results that they tend to look up often. A new “Follow” button Google search experiment will now allow users to subscribe to updates on their favorite topics.

Notes allows users to share their knowledge directly in Google’s search results, which enhances the knowledge with the best possible answers available among those who have been trying to gather information from the web.

“[Notes] are specifically designed to work hand-in-hand with existing content on the web to help people connect with the rich and vibrant information available,” said Cathy Edwards, vice president of engineering at Google. “We’re working hard to provide site owners with ways to get insight into notes.”

It did so because there are already numerous ways that people find content for the questions such as searching directly in forums such as Reddit and other spaces that might have content-specific information related to their queries related to their subject matter. However, there’s no layer attached to search where people can interact directly with one another and provide insights to one another and people hit search billions of times a day.

“Our goal with this new Labs experiment is to provide access to helpful tips about an article or topic from both experts and everyday people,” Brad Kellett, senior director of search at Google, wrote in a blog post announcing the experiment. “This not only helps you narrow in on the most relevant information but also may help you see what worked for others who have been there before.”

Users can opt in to Notes in Search Labs, after which a “Notes” button will appear beneath search results in the Google app on mobile devices. The notes button will allow users to add a note and reveal how many notes have been left, which will let users read them on a separate page.

Users can customize their notes with elements such as colorful fonts, stickers and photos. Each note can also be tailored with style templates that change the background, frame and other elements so that users can feel like they’ve made the whole experience their own. Google added that in the future, images generated by artificial intelligence will be coming to U.S. users.

Notes will appear in order similar to Google search rankings, with the most useful on the top. Most will also be posted immediately unless they have been flagged for human review.

In addition to Notes, Google also announced a new Follow feature that will allow users to keep up with topics they regularly search for or want to know more about. With Follow, users will be able to click a “Follow” button in search results on the Google app on topics such as their favorite sports team, cooking recipes, carpentry, regional news or whatever topic suits their fancy.

After clicking the Follow button, users will see articles and videos related to their followed topic appear on Discover, the homepage of the Google app. From within Discover, users can click on these snippets directly into search results to see new content related to their chosen subjects where new content will be unearthed.

Users with notifications turned on may even receive updates if something particularly newsworthy or timely happens to come along, such as breaking news or a concert from their favorite band or sports team coming to their city that they might want tickets for.

Google said that this new capability is planned to roll out on the Google app, Chrome and Safari in the U.S. over the coming weeks.

Image: Google