There have been numerous reports and articles on how ChatGPT will eventually replace Google Search. While ChatGPT is impressive, I don’t believe it will replace Google Search and here’s why.
1) There’s a mutual relationship between content creators and Google search
Google search and content creators have an interdependent relationship. Content creators create high-quality and relevant content that can rank well in search results, attracting organic traffic. Google search, in return, helps users discover and access this content by ranking it based on relevance and authority.
This engagement not only benefits the end user but is also a way for content creators to make money through ads, affiliate marketing, selling products etc; and that’s what it boils down to, money.
If ChatGPT were to replace Google, content creators would lack the motivation to produce new material since there would be no means of generating revenue. This would result in ChatGPT having limited or no content to learn from. Additionally, ChatGPT in its current state doesn’t credit the source, though this might change in the future. Hopefully, Microsoft and OpenAI will find a way to include content creators when implementing ChatGPT as a search tool.
Furthermore, Google also owns Youtube and the integration with search is excellent. For example, searching for a tutorial on how to paint walls and seeing a relevant section of that video is a neat feature.
2) Google has an integrated ecosystem
ChatGPT is an impressive tool. But Google Search might have the upper hand because of its integration with other Google services.
Search results may include information from the user’s Google Account, such as their Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Calendar, as well as information from Google Maps, YouTube, and other Google services. This integration allows users to find information faster and more easily and provides a more seamless and integrated experience across Google’s various products.
- Knowledge Graph: Google uses its Knowledge Graph technology to enhance search results with information from various Google services and other sources. This includes displaying information about people, places, and things in a visual format that is easy to understand.
- Location-based results: Google integrates location-based information from Google Maps into its search results, making it easier for users to find local businesses, directions, and other information related to their location.
- Personalized results: Google personalizes search results based on a user’s search history, location, and other factors, providing a more personalized and relevant experience for each user.
- Integration with Google Assistant: Google integrates search results with Google Assistant, allowing users to ask questions and get information through voice commands. This makes it easier for users to find information quickly, even when they’re on the go.
- Integration with Google AdWords: Google AdWords is integrated into Google Search, allowing businesses to advertise their products and services to users who are searching for relevant information.
It’s also worth mentioning that ChatGPT will probably be integrated with Bing and other Microsoft services. If this happens, there may be new features to strengthen its usefulness.
3)Google search works better for niche-specific content
ChatGPT possesses extensive information on numerous subjects. However, certain topics may be too niche, resulting in unfulfilled search results. In such cases, utilizing Google can lead you to specialized websites, discussion boards, and enthusiast communities focused on a particular topic.
- Relevance ranking: Google uses complex algorithms and a large number of ranking factors to determine the relevance of search results to a user’s query.
- Freshness: Google search can prioritize more recent information in its results, whereas ChatGPT knowledge only goes up until 2021.
- Large index: Google possesses an extensive index consisting of billions of web pages, enabling users to find niche websites.
- User signals: Google search takes into account the user’s location, search history, and other signals to provide personalized results.
- Multimedia search: Google search is able to search for and display images, videos, and other multimedia content relevant to a query, whereas ChatGPT is limited to text-based responses. This might change if ChatGPT is integrated with Bing.
- User-generated content: Google search can surface results from user-generated content platforms such as forums, Q&A sites, and social media, whereas ChatGPT only has access to the text that it was trained on.
- External databases: Google search can search external databases and provide results from specialized sources, such as academic journals, government databases, and industry reports.
- Structured data: Google search can interpret and understand structured data on the web, such as product listings, event information, and business reviews, which can be relevant to niche-specific searches.
- Real-time updates: Google search can provide real-time information on events, news, and other timely topics, ChatGPT training data only goes up until 2021.
- Local search: Google search can provide results that are relevant to a user’s location, such as local businesses, events, and maps, whereas ChatGPT doesn’t have access to real-time location data.
- Advanced search operators: Google search provides advanced search operators, such as site: and filetype, which allows users to perform more complex and specific searches, whereas ChatGPT relies only on natural language processing to understand and respond to queries.
- Query interpretation: Google search can interpret and understand complex queries, even when they use colloquial language or synonyms, whereas ChatGPT may not always understand the intent behind a query.
4)Google is a major player in the AI industry
Google is the same company that created LaMDA, an AI language model that convinced a Google engineer that it was sentient. If ChatGTP becomes a search engine, Google will compete by implementing LaMDA on its search engine.
Additionally, Google is at the forefront of the AI industry through its investments in advanced AI research and development, and incorporating AI into various products and services. It has a stronghold in both machine learning and deep learning, which are key areas of AI advancement.
Google leverages AI in its services like Google Assistant, Google Photos, and Google Translate to offer users exceptional experiences. The company’s Google Cloud platform also provides AI and Machine Learning tools and services for developers and businesses, solidifying its leading position in the AI industry.
Other reasons include:
- Large Data: Google has access to vast amounts of data, which is critical for the training and improvement of AI systems.
- Expertise: The company has a talented and experienced team of AI researchers, engineers, and practitioners who are among the best in the world.
- Wide-ranging applications: Google uses AI in a variety of products and services, including search, advertisements, image recognition, natural language processing, and more.
- Investment: Google continues to invest in AI, acquiring startups and talent in the field and funding research initiatives, ensuring it remains at the forefront of technological progress.
- Strong Research and Development: Google has been investing heavily in AI research and development for many years, resulting in cutting-edge advancements and breakthroughs in the field.
5) Google owns Android and chrome
Globally, billions of people use Android and the default search engine is Google. Additionally, Google Chrome, a widely used browser, is pre-installed on most Android devices, further driving usage of Google search. On iOS, Safari also uses Google search by default. Thus, it will be challenging for ChatGPT to gain traction as a search engine due to pre-existing browser settings.
Of course, no one really knows what will happen. But there’s one thing we know for sure. AI is the future.
