Thanks to the advent of AI-powered search, the way we search for information online is rapidly evolving. This intelligent approach anticipates our needs, understands the context, and significantly boosts productivity and user experience by providing more personalised and relevant answers to user queries. It’s not just a technological advancement but a significant shift in how we engage with the internet, making our online experience more efficient and enjoyable.
From “Do It Yourself” to “Do It for Me”
For years, Google has been our go-to search engine for information. You type in your question, hit search, and then sort through links to find what you’re looking for. It works, but it can be challenging to get relevant search options.
With the emergence of AI-powered search models like OpenAI’s SearchGPT, search accessibility has significantly improved. Instead of users having to manually search for everything, AI algorithms can now handle a substantial part of the work. Semantic Search comprehends the user intent, locates the relevant information, and tailors the answers to their needs. This is particularly beneficial for younger generations who are accustomed to instant gratification.
For instance, if you’re planning a last-minute weekend getaway, instead of scouring through different websites for flights, hotels, and activities, an AI-powered search like SearchGPT can consolidate it all for you. AI model understands your preferences and provides a comprehensive plan with booking links, weather forecasts, and suggestions for activities based on your past searches, putting you at ease and in the driver’s seat.
To explore how these search capabilities enhance overall customer experience, see our guide on AI in customer experience.
How AI-Powered Search is Changing the Game
AI-powered search is changing how search queries work. Traditional Google search ranks pages using machine learning, but SearchGPT uses deep learning and NLP (Natural Language Processing) to give you answers that make sense in context. This means it gets your request and provides more accurate and relevant results.
Example: Imagine a student trying to grasp a challenging scientific concept. Instead of scrolling through multiple websites, they can make natural language queries on an aI powered search engine for a simple explanation, detailed examples, or even a video that breaks it down further. The gen AI picks up on how much the student already knows and adjusts its explanation to fit the intended search requirement.
Getting the Latest Info Right When You Need It
One of the best things about AI search engines like OpenAI and Google’s AI Query is that they can pull real-time information from the web. This is super important for areas like finance, tech, or current events, where things change quickly, and you need the latest updates. Unlike traditional site searches that might show older, indexed results, artificial intelligence makes sure you’re getting the most up-to-date information.
Example: Think of a financial analyst who needs to keep track of live stock prices or breaking news that could impact the markets. Instead of jumping between different websites, they can use AI-powered search tools like SearchGPT or Google’s AI Overview to get real-time updates and insights, helping them make quicker decisions.
Google vs. GPT: How They Work Together
SearchGPT’s rapid rise is challenging veterans like Google Cloud search. Open AI attracted 200 million users in just a few months and had 1.8 billion monthly visits by April 2024 because People like the conversational and interactive search experience.
However, it’s necessary to see that the benefits of Google and SearchGPT are mutually exclusive and unique. AI-powered search models like SearchGPT are excellent for retrieval, augmented generation, and user chatting. In contrast, Google search is unbeatable at indexing and pulling real-time data from billions of pages. For example, a journalist might use Google’s AI Overview to gather the latest news articles and data while using SearchGPT to quickly draft a summary or report.
Example: Say you’re a journalist covering a breaking news story. You might use Google’s search generative experience to gather all the facts from various sources, then turn to generative ai search to help draft your initial report, saving you time when every second counts.
Keeping Information Up-to-Date
SearchGPT runs on a version-controlled large language model, which updates periodically as the model learns more. While this makes it stable, it can sometimes mean that machine learned ranking isn’t the latest—especially for train schedules or stock prices. That’s why users who need up-to-the-minute accuracy might want to double-check with real-time resources, which are crucial for effective AI-powered search results.
Example: If you’re a traveller checking for train times in Europe, Google’s AI technology offers real-time updates will give you the exact timing, whereas SearchGPT might offer a broader overview if it hasn’t been updated recently. This is something to keep in mind, especially for time-sensitive searches.
Clear and Honest Sources
AI-powered Search excels at transparency about its information sources. It always includes links to its sources, fostering trust and making verifying the facts easy. So, if you’re using SearchGPT to gather data for a business report, you can rest assured that you have the sources to confirm everything before you present it, providing a sense of security.
Example: A business analyst looking for data on market trends can rely on SearchGPT for the numbers and links to the original research, ensuring everything checks out before including it in a report.
What This Means for Publishers and Advertisers
AI-powered search is shaking things up for publishers and advertisers. Publishers who rely on Google search for traffic might need to rethink their strategies. As AI powered site search starts summarising content, fewer people might click through to the original articles, which could hurt direct ad revenues. To stay in the game, publishers need to focus on creating content that’s so engaging that people will want to visit the site anyway. Alternatively, publishers can look at newer business models like media e-commerce, wall-gated content, and others.
OpenAI knows this could be an issue, so they’ve teamed up with big publishers like The Wall Street Journal and Vox Media. These partnerships help ensure that content is managed well and that the sources get the credit they deserve.
Example: A media company might use SearchGPT to distribute its content more effectively, ensuring that the AI summaries provide accurate information and drive traffic back to their full articles, keeping ad revenue steady.
The landscape is shifting for advertisers, too. With the rise of AI-powered search, it’s becoming trickier to know where people will spend their time online, making it harder to plan budgets. Advertisers must innovate strategies and focus on being clear, transparent, and data-driven to get the best return on investment. AI-built search engines may increase the “Warm Traffic” for sites even if they reduce the overall traffic.
How AI-powered Search Could Change ECommerce
SearchGPT could revolutionise e-commerce. It has the potential to make shopping more convenient and efficient by providing direct answers and comparisons within the search results. Instead of presenting a list of links, AI-powered e-commerce search models can compare products and suggest discount sites, aiding shoppers in making faster and more informed decisions. This could significantly change online shopping, making the process more streamlined and user-friendly.
Example: Imagine you’re shopping for a new smartphone. Instead of visiting multiple websites to compare specs and prices, you ask an AI Chatbot. It instantly pulls up a side-by-side comparison of the top models, reviews, and pricing so you can decide on the spot. AI-powered search could speed up the buying process and make shopping more efficient.
AI-powered search is shaking things up for publishers and advertisers. This transformation is similar to how AI-driven personalization in luxury fashion revolutionises the shopping experience and tailoring products and services to meet individual tastes.
Social media and specialised searches
Social media is becoming a big player in the search world, especially for Gen Z, who use Google 25% less this year. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram aren’t just for fun—they’re critical tools for discovering brands and finding information. This shift means traditional search engines might need more features to engage users.
Plus, people are turning to specialised platforms for specific needs—like Amazon for shopping or LinkedIn for professional networking. This could challenge traditional search engines, but it might also lead to a new way of searching in which AI-powered search pulls together information from all these sources to help users make better decisions.
Example: A professional looking for a new job might use LinkedIn’s search tools to find opportunities while also asking SearchGPT to help draft a personalised cover letter or to suggest ways to improve their resume based on current industry standards.
Wrapping Up: The Future of AI-Powered Search
The way we search is evolving. It’s not just about finding information anymore—it’s about getting personalized, relevant, and easy-to-understand answers. AI-powered search models like SearchGPT are leading the way, pushing traditional search engines to keep up and innovate.
“In the age of AI-powered search, the true Chief Algorithms Officer isn’t just an engineer—it’s the savvy user who knows how to ask the right questions.”
As we embrace these new technologies, it’s clear that the future of search will be defined not just by the power of algorithms but by the wisdom of those who use them.
