For around 30 years, search engines have operated in the same way by providing a list of links with short excerpts from the hit pages when a search query is made. However, with the integration of AI text generators, search engines are set to evolve into answer engines. Rather than sending users on a journey to gather information, AI search engines will read the content of the most important hit pages to provide an individual answer.
Microsoft’s search engine Bing has implemented a chatbot for such purposes. However, initial tests showed that the chatbot reacted unexpectedly emotionally and provided information that was untrue, highlighting that there is still a long way to go towards achieving the ideal picture. Even Google, with its proven AI expertise, has not yet taken the step to include such technology into its search engine.
The new AI text generator technology is expected to provide higher quality results that are less prone to errors. However, the search engine still provides links to hit pages for users who want to delve deeper into the matter or check facts.
The industry experts published an article on this topic in the c’t magazine, making several comparisons between specialists and universalists while discussing the benefits of the new AI search engines. A comparison table has also been provided for readers.
In conclusion, search engines are evolving from being source-finders to answer engines through the integration of AI text generator technology. Although the concept is promising, there is still a long way to go for the technology to be perfected.
