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Ask HN: Do you still use search engines?

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Ask HN: Do you still use search engines?

#1

Post by davidkuennen »

Today, I noticed that my behavior has shifted over the past few months. Right now, I exclusively use ChatGPT for any kind of search or question.

Using Google now feels completely lackluster in comparison.

I've noticed the same thing happening in my circle of friends as well—and they don’t even have a technical background.

How about you?

Re: Ask HN: Do you still use search engines?

#2

Post by guillaume8375 »

I’m a Kagi subscriber; I like it but I use it less and less.

The more times goes by, the more I use both ChatGPT and Claude to search (at the same time, to cross-check the results) with Kagi used to either check the results when I know strictly nothing of the subject or for specific searches (restaurants, movie showings…).

I’ve almost completely stopped using Google.

Re: Ask HN: Do you still use search engines?

#3

Post by bigomega »

Not really, no. My peers and I were constantly opening ChatGPT when probing new topics. But now, with Gemini integrated within Google and the hallucinations of LLMs, seeing the SEO result along with the AI summary has become my goto choice. The one thing I find extremely frustrating (which I hope Google fixes) is not being able to continue the conversation with Gemini if I have follow-up questions.

I think this also stems from a new design paradigm emerging in the search domain of tech. The content results and conversational answers are merging – be it Google or your Algolia search within your documentation, a hybrid model is on the rise.

Re: Ask HN: Do you still use search engines?

#6

Post by mohi-kalantari »

I'm also using chatgpt with its search enabled or perplexity for searching almost anything. Way more accurate and to the point.

I feel like the google search will become obsolete in a short time and they have to make big changes to their UX and search engine.

Although I guess most of its user base are still relying on the old ways so changing it right now has huge impacts on older users.

Re: Ask HN: Do you still use search engines?

#7

Post by muzani »

I usually do both at the same time. Ironically because Google.com is the shortest path to Gemini.

The other day I was also searching for something dumb: how to hammer a nail into concrete.

Google will find me instructions for a hammer-drill... no I just have a regular hammer. There's a link from wikiHow, which is okay, but I feel like it hallucinates as much as AI. Actually I just opened the link and the first instruction involves a hammer drill too. The second one is what I wanted, more wordy than ChatGPT.

Google then shows YouTube which has a 6 minute video. Then reddit which has bad advice half the time. I'm an idiot searching for how to hammer nails into a wall. I do not have the skill level to know when it's BS. Reddit makes me think I need a hammer drill and a fastener. Quora is next and it's even worse. It says concrete nails bend when hit, which even I know is false. It also convinces me that I need safety equipment to hit a nail with a hammer.

I just want a checklist to know that I'm not forgetting anything. ChatGPT gives me an accurate 5-step plan and it went perfectly.

Re: Ask HN: Do you still use search engines?

#8

Post by austin-cheney »

I used an AI tool for the first time this weekend to get a military CAC to authenticate to websites through Firefox on Arch. It took more than half a dozen uses of the AI tool to get what I was looking for though. Super edge case and even the AI struggled like a human.

Yes, I still use search engines and almost always find what I need in long form if I can’t figure it out on my own.

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