Search Deep Dive
How we access information is being fundamentally altered by AI-Powered solution. In this article, with the help of Perplexity.ai, I am diving into changes and challenges in the world of search.
Let's dive in to changes in Search
Perplexity AI give you a summarized list of answers from highly rated articles.
Arc takes the Perplexity.ai results and turns it in a web page.
Meanwhile, Google is testing out more conversations Maps searches
From Perplexity.ai on Perplexity.ai
Perplexity AI differs from Google Search in several key ways:
AI-Powered Search Engine: Perplexity AI is an AI-powered search engine that combines the capabilities of a chatbot with search functionalities. It is designed to provide a more conversational and interactive search experience compared to the traditional list of links offered by Google Search.
Integration of Multiple AI Databases: It utilizes multiple AI databases, including GPT, to generate responses and provide references for the information it presents, which can enhance the credibility and traceability of the information provided.
Conversational Responses: Perplexity AI is capable of understanding and responding to freeform generative AI instructions, which allows it to answer questions in a conversational manner, similar to a chatbot, but with the added ability to perform web searches to find the most relevant sources.
Source Referencing: Unlike Google Search, which primarily provides links to web pages, Perplexity AI gives references showing the source for the statements it makes, which can help users quickly assess the reliability of the information.
Specialization in Search: While both Perplexity AI and ChatGPT are AI-powered, Perplexity AI specializes in search capabilities, offering a different approach to information retrieval compared to ChatGPT's focus on conversation.
Potential for Customization: Perplexity AI offers a paid product, Perplexity Pro, which allows users to access more powerful AI models and features, such as uploading their own files for a more personalized search experience.
In summary, Perplexity AI aims to provide a more interactive, conversational, and transparent search experience, with a focus on AI-driven responses and the ability to reference sources directly, which could potentially address some of the limitations users experience with traditional search engines like Google Search.
From Perplexity.ai on Arc Browser
Arc Browser's search functionality, known as Arc Search, and Perplexity AI's search engine offer distinct approaches to enhancing the search experience, leveraging AI technologies. Here's a comparison based on the provided sources:
Arc Search
Integration of Browser, Search Engine, and AI: Arc Search combines these elements to create a unique browsing experience. It uses AI to explore websites and generate new, synthesized web pages based on user queries, effectively building a custom website for each search.
"Browse for Me" Feature: This AI-powered feature crawls the web for results and presents them in a newly generated "website," aiming to streamline the search process by summarizing content and presenting it in an organized manner.
Use of Multiple AI Models: While it incorporates AI from OpenAI among others, Arc Search focuses on creating a seamless integration of browsing and searching, aiming to reimagine how users interact with the web on mobile platforms.
Perplexity AI
AI-Powered Search Engine: Perplexity AI is designed as an answer engine that provides precise, conversational answers to queries. It leverages advanced models like GPT-4, Claude 2.1, and Gemini Pro to deliver a clutter-free, information-rich search experience.
Integration into Arc Browser: Perplexity AI has been integrated into Arc Browser as a default search engine option, allowing users to access its AI-powered search capabilities directly within the browser. This partnership aims to combine Arc's minimalist interface with Perplexity's intelligent search to enhance the overall internet interaction.
Focus on Conversational Search Experience: Perplexity emphasizes a conversational approach to search, aiming to provide users with direct answers and insights rather than just links to external websites.
Key Differences
Search Experience: Arc Search aims to reimagine the browsing experience by using AI to generate new web pages from search results, whereas Perplexity AI focuses on delivering direct, conversational answers within a traditional search framework.
AI Integration: While both utilize AI, Arc Search's "Browse for Me" feature represents a more radical departure from traditional search engines by creating synthesized content from crawled web results. Perplexity AI, on the other hand, integrates into Arc as a more conventional, albeit advanced, search engine option.
User Interface and Interaction: Arc Search is part of a broader effort to integrate search, browsing, and AI into a cohesive mobile experience, emphasizing ease of use and a minimalist interface. Perplexity AI's integration into Arc Browser enhances this experience by providing an option for users who prefer a direct, answer-focused search engine.
In summary, while both Arc Search and Perplexity AI leverage AI to improve the search experience, they do so in different ways: Arc Search by redefining the browsing experience with AI-generated content, and Perplexity AI by providing a powerful, conversational answer engine integrated within the Arc Browser.
Application
Imagine the strategy question: What do you think is the greatest threat to Google Search? Or, do you think Perplexity.ai is truly a threat to Google? Yes or No?
Thing I might point out:
Neither company has a defensible moat.
Google can copy easily.
Google has inertia on its side. (I keep meaning to make Perplexity.ai a habit, but I go to Google first 99% of the time.)
Why/How Perplexity.ai could really threaten Google:
They have to move faster and turn into a habit before Google copies their approach. Perplexity.ai needs to figure out the ads faster, which it is unlikely to do. Look at Meta and how it (1) supercharged Instagram, created a viable competitor to TikTok, etc.
I think word of Google's demise is greatly exaggerated. I am thankful for Perplexity.ai's approach, but I don't think its lead will last long. And in this world of increased anti-trust regulation and failed Big Tech mergers, Perplexity.ai doesn't have a strong soft exit.
I am glad Google has been pushed to innovate after falling behind, thanks to the Innovator's Dilemma problem, but you just need to look at Meta’s ability to swallow competitors to see that it will not be difficult for a newly awoken giant to catch up and eventually overtake rivals.
Other innovations in Search recently released:
Circle to search. Samsung and Pixel devices will soon allow you to draw a circle around any asset and search for it.
If you disagree with me, use it to power your next answer on a strategy prompt.
