All articles tagged with #search engine
Google’s AI Overviews can be hidden by appending an en dash and letters to your search query (for example, –ai), a trick that mostly works on desktop browsers; you can also switch to Classic Search or use another engine like DuckDuckGo or Brave to avoid AI summaries, but beware AI summaries can still be inaccurate and you should verify by visiting the source.
A Reuters Institute survey of 280 media leaders across 51 countries finds AI-powered search summaries and chatbots could cut news referrals by about 43% over three years, with global search traffic already down roughly a third; publishers are shifting away from chasing traffic toward subscriptions, and investing in YouTube/TikTok-style short-form content, while 75% plan to push journalists to act more like creators and about half to partner with creators, signaling a potential end to the traditional 'traffic era' for online news.
PCMag weighs DuckDuckGo and Google on privacy, customization, AI features, and core search tasks: DuckDuckGo prioritizes privacy and a highly customizable interface, while Google offers broader tools like maps, news, image/video search, and strong integrations; both deliver reliable results, so the choice hinges on whether you value privacy or a richer feature set.
UK regulators are considering forcing Google to change its search engine practices, potentially requiring it to offer users the option to choose rival search services, as part of a broader competition crackdown.
The UK Competition and Markets Authority has designated Google with 'strategic market status,' potentially leading to changes that increase user choice in search engines, amid concerns over Google's market dominance and efforts to promote competition. Google warns that such measures could hinder innovation, while consumer groups see this as a positive step towards addressing Google's dominance in search.
MetaGraph is a new search engine that indexes vast amounts of biological data, including DNA, RNA, and proteins, enabling researchers to efficiently explore and analyze petabases of genetic information across various life forms, thus revolutionizing data accessibility and biological research.
A recent antitrust ruling against Google addresses its dominance in search and its potential impact on AI development, with the court imposing some restrictions but stopping short of significant interventions, raising concerns about Google's ability to leverage its data and dominance in the evolving AI landscape.
Google is expanding its AI Mode in Search to support Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, and Brazilian Portuguese, marking the first time the chatbot is available in languages other than English, with aims to enhance local relevance and understanding across more regions.
Apple is developing a new in-house generative AI search product called 'Answers' that may launch as soon as March, aiming to compete with ChatGPT and Perplexity, with potential integration into Siri, Safari, and Spotlight, despite ongoing internal model decisions.
The ACCC has taken legal action against Google Asia Pacific for anti-competitive conduct related to pre-installation agreements with Telstra and Optus, which restricted consumer choice and hindered competition in the Australian search engine market. Google has admitted liability, agreed to pay a $55 million penalty, and committed to removing certain restrictions from its contracts, aiming to foster greater competition and consumer choice, especially with the rise of AI search tools.
Perplexity's Comet AI web browser offers innovative AI-powered browsing features like summarization, source linking, and agentic capabilities, potentially shaping the future of online search, though it currently faces limitations with recency and consistency. The browser, built on Chromium, aims to challenge Google Chrome and traditional search engines by integrating AI directly into the browsing experience.
Perplexity, an AI search startup, is raising new funding at a $20 billion valuation, up from $18 billion in July, with its business surging to over $150 million in annual recurring revenue. The company recently made a $34.5 billion bid for Google's Chrome browser and has attracted investments from major players like SoftBank, Nvidia, and Jeff Bezos, amid fierce competition from tech giants like Google and OpenAI.
Apple is developing a new, simplified AI chatbot to compete with ChatGPT, marking a shift from its previous strategy of partnering with OpenAI. The company has formed a team to create in-house AI services that could enhance Siri, Spotlight, and Safari, aiming to deliver a web-crawling, ChatGPT-like search experience. This move indicates Apple's focus on accelerating its AI capabilities to stay competitive, with potential plans for a standalone app and integration into existing services.
Apple is forming a new 'Answers, Knowledge, and Information' team to develop an in-house AI search experience similar to ChatGPT, marking a shift from its previous stance against chatbot development, despite some internal reservations and past delays in AI projects.
Google is launching a new AI-powered search feature called 'AI Mode' in the UK, which provides conversational answers instead of traditional link-based results, raising concerns about its impact on web traffic, advertising revenue, and news organizations, while also highlighting environmental considerations of increased AI use.