Can ChatGPT replace Google? Machines to save our lives, machines dehumanize

The problem's plain to see,?too much technology

Machines to save our lives, machines dehumanize

What do you want when you Google something? Do you want a list of web pages that might have your answer?

Or would you just like the answer?

It seems crazy to talk about the end of Google; the company has become so ubiquitous that its name has become the word most people use to mean “search for something online.”

But Google has become enormously wealthy using Web2 technologies to deliver Web1 results. (Much, much more on this in the Jan. 22 Perfecting Equilibrium Reader.) For better or for worse, it delivers a list of links. For example, let’s ask Google: Can ChatGPT replace Google?

Here’s Google’s response:

And now let’s ask ChatGPT:

ChatGPT simply answers the question, and even does so in a somewhat humble matter, listing Google virtues.

Google…produces a list of links that may or may not contain the answer. Most of the links repeat the question, so there’s no way to ascertain if they contain useful information without clicking on them. And many are puzzling, such as “Can ChatGPT replace Google-Level Up Coding.”

And while ChatGPT coyly says it “is not designed to replace Google or other search engines,” that smooth answer is certainly carefully worded.?Microsoft has poured more than $10 billion into ChatGPT parent OpenAI to the persistent rumor that Redmond intends to use the technology as a new front end for its Bing search engine.

Perhaps that particular query is not a good test. Let’s try something less vague and more straightforward: I’m a writer and photographer. What’s the best laptop for me?

Once again, ChatGPT returns a clean, concise answer.

Google’s list of links is somewhat off-point. In fact the first laptop screen of results is much more focused on video editing, which wasn’t the question and really drives up the price.

Let’s see if we can tighten these results up with a more refined query: I’m a writer and photographer. What’s the best laptop for me? My budget is $1,000.

And here we reach the heart of this discussion. This looks like a fairly complete answer - note the discussion of the fact that photo editing does not require dedicated video cards. Responses like this are why Microsoft has invested billions in ChatGPT parent OpenAI and might add ChatGPT to Bing before Google Search gets an AI chatbot.

If Microsoft is going to stick OpenAI in front of Bing, why can’t Alphabet just stick a chatbot in front of Google Search and call it a day? Why are there so many reports that Alphabet is reluctant to head in this direction?

Because their business model is built on loading ads into search results and targeting ads elsewhere. How do you wind that into a chatbot discussion? “Here are the three best laptops for you; oh, and here’s A Word From Our Sponsor.”

Which brings up the issue for the rest of us: Data integrity. Where is ChatGPT getting these answers? Google is strewn with ads, and it’s algorithm is a suspect black box, but at least when you find the link to Best Laptop for Photo Editing in 2023, you can see it’s from FindingTheUniverse.com and decide if that’s a source you trust. ChatGPT is a complete black box; you have no idea where it got those ideas, or why it chose to answer that way.

Check it out: Can you find the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon that fits a $1,000 budget?

Next on Perfecting Equilibrium

January 19th:?(LinkedIn): Sometimes you can see the passing of the torch. Dec. 8, 2022 was the day Corporate Media passed the torch to the new wave of micro media companies.

January 20th:?Foto.Feola.Friday and the Perfecting Equilibrium Digest.

January 22nd:?What exactly is Web3, anyway? How is it different from Web2 and Web1? How did we get here, and what does it all mean? The start of the occasional series Pandora’s Program.

Christopher J Feola founded PrivacyChain, which provides Data as a Service to Web3 projects and restores the value of content. If you liked this post from Perfecting Equilibrium, why not share it?