←back to thread

Google's new AI mode is good, actually

(simonwillison.net)
129 points xnx | 5 comments | 07 Sep 25 14:43 UTC | HN request time: 0.013s | source
Show context
Workaccount2 ◴[07 Sep 25 15:53 UTC] No.45159284[source]▶
Google is really shooting themselves in the foot with AI overviews.

It's probably the most popular AI on earth by daily queries, and likewise probably an ~8B level model, it means a whole bunch of people equate Google AI to AI overviews.

replies(6): >>45159506 #>>45159543 #>>45159566 #>>45162173 #>>45163743 #>>45166114 #
1. bee_rider ◴[07 Sep 25 16:19 UTC] No.45159543[source]▶
I wonder to what extent that “generate some garbage spam along with every search” has hurt their reputation among the general public.
replies(1): >>45162497 #
2. GlitchInstitute ◴[07 Sep 25 21:49 UTC] No.45162497[source]▶
probably close to zero? people get the anwers for most questions.

Small-time blogs were dead before AI

replies(1): >>45164552 #
3. ruszki ◴[08 Sep 25 04:08 UTC] No.45164552[source]▶
People get an answer, and not the answer. It seems that people are fine with this. Even this article's example answer is false. The author didn't care, and considered it good.
replies(1): >>45164586 #
4. sometimes_all ◴[08 Sep 25 04:17 UTC] No.45164586{3}[source]▶
I believe that Google has figured out (correctly, IMO) that accuracy doesn't matter to most people 99% of the time, and people will likely do a deeper search for the 1% of the time they do want it.

If people really wanted the truth and facts, we would not have misinformation spread this widely via social media and other places.

replies(1): >>45166856 #
5. utyop22 ◴[08 Sep 25 11:05 UTC] No.45166856{4}[source]▶
People prefer to be lazy and sit and do nothing, than to move around to achieve a goal.

Is that a good thing? The reality is most humans are becoming more and more intellectually lazy - as a result their cognitive function are in decline. Therefore if something looks right at face value / supports an internal bias - they take it and run with it.