Online research now requires creative tools beyond Google & Microsoft.
Artificial Intelligence is not yet prepared for online search, nor are its users. A more reliable AI solution would be a tool that simply guides and assists the user in their search for information.
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It's clear to everyone that Google and Microsoft have recently unveiled plans to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into their online search tools. Bing and Google Bard aim to revolutionize the way we access information from the internet, with the promise of greater ease and speed. But what about security and reliability? We have reason to be concerned. AI is simply not ready for online search as the two tech giants envision it. A more reliable AI solution for online search would be a tool that simply guides and assists the user in their search for information.
I will tell you more.
We cannot yet trust AI technology. Google's AI, in particular, is still in its alpha version and has been struggling for over a decade, despite the $20 billion+ it has invested in AI since 2015. Google is hesitant to reveal its progress but does so due to the enthusiasm generated by Chatgpt and Microsoft's efforts to counter its monopoly. Bing, on the other hand, relies on the technology behind Chatgpt from Open Ai, which has already presented major and worrying defects before being connected to the internet.
Here are the main risks associated with the premature use of artificial intelligence in search engines:
The invention of Facts or Simply Bullshit: AI models are trained to generate plausible text, rather than true statements, and can be surprisingly convincing on any topic. However, due to its inability to distinguish between truth and falsehood, it is not suitable for applications such as education or health questions. It can be useful for tasks where it is easy to verify the accuracy of the AI's answer, tasks where truth is not important, and tasks for which there is a reliable source of truth.
The bias of the Algorithm: These AI algorithms are trained on biased or inappropriate data, which can lead to biased search results. It is known that OpenAI, in particular, has trained its model on data from online discussion forums such as Reddit, which can influence its responses when it comes to opinions. These biases include associating Muslims with violence, racism, denial of trans identities, and even anti-Semitism. Furthermore, due to its lack of discernment, it can suggest to a user to commit suicide.
Ethics and Responsibility: Google's responsibility in managing and "organizing" global searches on the internet is immense. It is important to remember that tech companies are not above the law, and they have a responsibility to ensure that dangerous and harmful content is not available on their platforms for the stability of nations. Errors are not an option.
The potential errors of these search engines could have a significant impact on the perception of artificial intelligence and its future: If the results of these systems are wrong, it could lead to far-reaching consequences. Consumers may lose trust in these systems and choose not to use them. It is therefore essential that these search engines be designed and updated with accuracy so that their results are reliable and secure.
Privacy and Data Protection: The use of AI in online research may involve the collection, storage, and analysis of large amounts of personal data, which can pose risks to privacy and data protection. However, the main concern should not be there, but rather on what we are able to make AI say: "Since it's Google that says it, it must be true!" We have seen this play out in the uses and debates around Chatgpt since its launch, with some users attempting to make it say things like antisemitism, racism, and conspiracy theories. The coming weeks will be turbulent for Google and Microsoft.
Some thoughts came to my mind...
I began to ponder if there was potential for a different approach to incorporating AI into online search engines. Instead of attempting to give users answers that we don't possess, what if we created a tool to help them with their searches?
There is a need for innovation on this subject. Ideas must be explored to find new solutions and approaches.
Searching online can be time-consuming. And it won't get better with Bard, Bing, or You Chat, as they will only provide more information to sort through. We can't trust their summaries yet, so they will only provide a first level of filtering. The user will still have to do the sorting work. AI can be a great help if a tool is created to assist users in their search tasks.
I can only imagine this tool, as I haven't seen one like it yet. It would be an online platform that helps the user step-by-step to carry out research and acquire information. The interface would be designed specifically for this purpose, with constant onboarding for the job. It would start with defining research objectives, presenting information, and selecting with AI assistance. It would also manage and collect results, with the goal of never having to do the same research twice.
Here's my vision for the features:
The interface should be in a conversational search context. Start with a query and use conversation to indicate what you want to find as answers. Automatically generate a title for each session by synthesizing your results.
Make search suggestions to help refine the query: simplify search terms, use more specific keywords, and remove unhelpful words.
Create an automatic table of contents for each page, and estimate if it answers the question. Detect pages that repeat or go in circles to optimize SEO.
After a search, checkmarks appear on each link; select the ones that interest you, and the tool will preload them and sort them. The tool will specifically learn the needs of each user and their preferences.
Chatgpt is the most common tool for this purpose. It helps to draw a guideline, provide clarity and coherence, gather relevant information, and synthesize it all into useful material for the user.
A second point to consider is the potential for users to have a personalized Chatgpt through the assistant, which is fed with the user's personal data. This would make it easier to use.
Those who have used the Open Ai platform have likely noticed that Chatgpt is not particularly tailored to individual users. It is necessary to specify our motivations, the style, and the way we want the product or the references to be structured for each chat. It may take some time for people to fully understand and master it, as well as to develop the necessary skills to use it effectively.
I recently had to use an optimized Desktop version on Windows to have ready-to-use prompts, the ability to inject scripts, etc. I also noticed that there were more and more tools available to get prompts, which will become the new keys to expertise in artificial intelligence tools, as they will likely require support to use them.
Well, it’s time for my personal opinion and conclusion.
I will conclude by saying that AI is a raw material that is too raw to be effectively used today. It needs tools to implement and adapt its capabilities to users. Microsoft and Google are working on this. We should follow their lead and strive to do better. With antitrust regulators keeping a close watch on Google's business, and Microsoft likely to face issues with the false information its new Bing search engine will generate, now is a good time to present an unprecedented solution.
Let's use AI for an online search in a different way. We could create a tool that assists the user in collecting and organizing information, rather than providing the information itself. This could be a reliable alternative to the dangers of disinformation from the next generation of search engines.
I believe that we don't need a new search engine with AI capabilities to answer user queries; instead, an online search assistant is necessary. This assistant should use Google, Bing, or another engine to guide and help users find the information they need.