I have used Google as my go-to search engine for as long as I can remember, the idea of shifting to Generative AI (GenAI) for daily information needs felt like an unnecessary move. Google has always given me the most accurate answers to my questions, but the rise of GenAI offers a new possibility. One that’s personalized, dynamic, and more conversational.
The biggest advantage GenAI offers over traditional search engines is its ability to process complex, nuanced queries and return highly contextual answers. For example, instead of sifting through several articles, blogs, or websites to find an answer, GenAI can instantly generate a concise, tailored response, saving me valuable time. The interaction feels more like consulting a knowledgeable assistant than just browsing static and overloading results. The conversational flow allows for follow-up questions, allowing for a deeper dive into the topic without constantly retyping search terms.
While GenAI excels in producing content, it sometimes struggles with providing factual accuracy. It seems to prioritize presenting an answer like it is factual instead of acknowledging that the answer is wrong, especially with ChatGPT. This makes me more cautious, especially when dealing with research-heavy topics. Additionally, GenAI is less adept at providing direct access to specific web resources.
Over the past two weeks I have used GenAI whenever I would use Google as a search engine. I have had some mixed experiences with ChatGPT, my main go-to when I use GenAI. I noticed that while its generative power is great, it does not behave as a search engine. While simple search prompts like the weather are accurate with ChatGPT, other searches are plain wrong. For instance, I regularly look up guitar chords for songs with Google. When entering the same prompt for chords in ChatGPT, it makes up its own chords. However, Gemini, a GenAI bot by Google, was able to give the right answer to a guitar chord prompt. But even with Gemini, I noticed that simply googling stuff would be more effective for almost all the answers I was looking for.
In conclusion, using GenAI as a daily search engine has left me with mixed feelings. It streamlines productivity, enhances creativity, and provides faster results. But for fact-checking or accessing the most recent information, a hybrid approach combining Google and GenAI might be the best solution for now.
