Google Inc. unveiled a set of enhancements to its Internet search engine Wednesday that predict search queries as users type, promising to speed up the time it takes to find information online.

Google Instant, which is being launched Wednesday in the United States, delivers search results on a Web page before a user finishes typing in a query. The search results displayed on the page refresh and change as the user continues typing additional letters of the search term.
Google said the new technology can shave two seconds to five seconds from every search.

Google is the world’s No.1 search engine, but is facing increased competition from Microsoft Corp’s Bing search engine.

New technologies, such as the specialized applications that run on Apple Inc’siPhones, and fast-growing social networking services such as Facebook, are also threatening to undermine Google’s position as the main gateway to online information, according to analysts.

Google shares are down roughly 26 percent from their 52-week high of $629.51.

Google said the technology will also be available in many more countries in several weeks.