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AI-Powered Search Comes Calling

Google and Microsoft are facing off once again, though this time the battle for turf is what the former lorded over unchallenged for several years

Google and Microsoft are all set for a clash of the tech titans. This time the battlefront is one that Google has owned for at least two decades with its search algorithms. However, Microsoft now wants to join the party by integrating ChatGPT into its Bing search engine and Google responded in kind by announcing its own AI-powered ‘multisearch’. 

Microsoft made the announcement on Tuesday about adding cutting-edge AI capabilities to its Bing search engine to a media gathering at its Redmond headquarters. Barely twenty-four hours later Google announced a new multi search that allows users to use text and images to locate what they’re looking for around the world wide web. 

Of course, if one were to cut the clutter, it would appear as if Microsoft has got an edge (no pun intended) as Satya Nadella himself feels that this technology (AI) could reshape every software company. He confirmed that the “race starts today” and gave attendees a sneak peak into what the company refers to as “your AI-powered copilot for the web”. 

Nadella said the new Bing would provide direct answers to questions and encourage users to be more creative, because the current search experience (read Google!) throws up results where 40% of the time, people click on the search link and immediately click the back button, indicating that the experience hadn’t worked for them. 

Bing’s new ChatGPT type feature will move users to have an actual conversation with the search engine. It would provide the ability to follow up on previous questions and provide more context for their search. The new Bing is available for limited purview on desktop or users can sign up to be notified when it becomes more widely available. 

Now, coming to Google’s latest offering, the ‘multi-search’ allows users to search using both text and images at the same time (a feature they introduced last April). The feature would be made available in geographies where Google Lens is available. Users could also try out the multi search near me feature that targets searches of local businesses. 

The company explained that multi-search is powered by AI technology known as multitask unified model or MUM. This can understand data across a variety of formats such as text, photos, and videos and then draw insights and connections between topics, concepts and ideas. This was introduced via Google Lens and its visual search features. 

“We redefined what we mean to search by introducing Lens. We’ve since brought Lens directly to the search bar and we continue to bring new capabilities like shopping and step-by-step homework help,” Prabhakar Raghavan, Google’s SVP in charge Search, Assistant, Geo, Ads, Commerce and Payments products, said at a press event in Paris.

The feature would become available in all languages and countries where Lens isavailable over the next few months. Google said it will also expand beyond mobile devices with support for multi-search on the web in the coming months. 

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