AI Chatbots Threaten Google’s Search Engine Dominance: Matthew Berman was planning a camping trip
when he remembered a tip suggesting that pitching a tent on top of a car rather than on the ground
could protect against animal attacks.
In the past, he would have turned to Google’s search engine to verify such information,
but now he relies on a chatbot called “Perplexity.”
Perplexity, which markets itself as an “AI-powered answer engine,”
provides concise and direct answers instead of a list of links (though it does include links to sources).
Berman, the founder of a startup called “Sonar,” which helps businesses manage text messages, commented: “It’s simply about saving time.”
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Shifts in the Online Search Model
Moving Away from Traditional Search Engines
Berman estimates that AI-powered search tools have reduced his use of Google by over 90%.
He explained: “Searching on Google can waste a lot of time navigating links,
and it’s frustrating not to find what you’re looking for immediately.
On the other hand, with tools like (Perplexity) or (ChatGPT),
you’re much more likely to get the answer you need on the first try.”
Returning to his camping trip, Berman found that pitching a tent on top of the car wasn’t worthwhile,
even though it might provide extra protection against predators.
While the number of users of AI-powered chatbots is still relatively limited compared to traditional search engines,
these early adopters are paving the way for broader acceptance of new technologies.
They also influence how companies design their products.
Tech Giants Respond
Major search engine companies like Alphabet (Google’s parent company) and Microsoft
have recognized the importance of integrating AI into their products.
Google, for instance, has introduced a feature called “AI Overviews” to generate direct answers within its search results.
In October, Google CEO Sundar Pichai revealed that this feature
now serves a billion users monthly, with plans to expand to over 100 countries.
Shifts in the Online Search Model
Searching for information on Google has long been one of the most common activities online,
and many companies have built their business models around this behavior.
However, users are now starting to pay for AI-powered search services.
For example, Perplexity Pro and ChatGPT Plus offer advanced search features for a $20 monthly subscription.
The big question remains: How will Google adapt to this new reality?
Challenges with AI: “Hallucinated Answers”
AI chatbots rely on artificial intelligence to provide answers, but they can sometimes offer inaccurate information,
a phenomenon known as “AI hallucination.”
For instance, when ChatGPT was asked for hiking trails in Palo Alto,
it generated a map with clear errors, which could have caused a problem if the user hadn’t noticed beforehand.
John Bailey, a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute,
advises treating AI-generated results cautiously and reviewing them thoroughly before relying on them.
While Google can also deliver inaccurate information,
users are generally more experienced in assessing website credibility than AI chatbots.
The Road Ahead
While chatbots like Perplexity and ChatGPT are improving their accuracy,
they still face challenges regarding reliability and cost.
Early adopters may tolerate these flaws, but most internet users may still prefer traditional search engines.
Ultimately, the key question remains: can chatbots redefine online search habits, or will Google maintain its dominance?
AI Chatbots Threaten Google’s Search Engine Dominance
