Google Testing AI Overviews in Search Results, Even If You Have Not Opted In 12
Search Engine Land: Google is now testing AI overviews in the main Google Search results, even if you have not opted into the Google Search Generative Experience labs feature. Google said this is an experience on a "subset of queries, on a small percentage of search traffic in the U.S.," a Google spokesperson told Search Engine Land.
Re: (Score:2)
This is unironically the great fear at google. Since their search engine is primarily used not to search for pages but to search for answers, if AI can answer faster than a query that is input into search engine, Google search may be going the way of Altavista. A strictly inferior product that cannot compete.
Re:Microsoft has been doing this for a while. (Score:5, Insightful)
This is Google's fault. Google used to be a search engine to find pages but over the years it has morphed into a useless steaming pile trying to find answers instead. I would welcome a search engine that actually finds web sites and pages for me again.
Re: (Score:3)
If you welcomed that, you'd use something that does. You don't. Almost nobody does, because returns from that are so much worse than they used to be. Because web moved beyond "web pages that answer questions". In rare cases where it still happens, the answer is stretched over many pages to generate maximum ad impressions per answer.
This is a classic case of stated preferences vs revealed preferences.
It's been said before, but it never gets stale (Score:2)
One of the ultimate truths of the new universe is, "If you aren't buying the product, you are the product". Of course Google is going to involve you in their research, whether you like it or not. What else would you expect?
Re: (Score:2)
Sanitize your searching with startpage.com. Heck, you can even save your search options without having to install a cookie on your system.
Re: (Score:2)
Excellent advice! I've been using Startpage for a couple of years.
Can I at least get decent search syntax from this? (Score:2)
Like, can I tell the AI chatbot "OK Google, the items that I'm searching for in quotes must match exactly, also exclude results from sites X / Y / Z" in an attempt to match their 1999-era functionality?
Re: (Score:1)
I really wish that were the case; I remember the moment(ish) when Google search results started to be "I think what you MEAN is..." instead of "Here is exactly what you asked for". I do miss those days.
Google guarantees manipulation (Score:2)
Still better than Bing! (Score:2)
But that might not be considered much of an achievement.
I've seen it and ignored it already. (Score:2)
My main use for google is syntax of unfamiliar, to me, applications. I don't need to have a 5 year old explain what they're for. I also don't want to watch the last 10 seconds of a 5 minute video, either.