Always missing the editor

Typical AI point-missing, neglecting the role of editors as usual.

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In the wake of artificial assistants, searching the “traditional” way will get thrown out as the internet totally transforms; nonetheless, it might take a while for AI to fully replace search engines like Google or Microsoft’s Bing. Until then, tech companies will keep trying to implement GPT-like systems into their search systems. Microsoft is already aggressively pushing for this. When you search for something through Microsoft Edge, the chatbot’s response is the first thing to pop up.

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Google has been using highly advanced AI in its searches for many years. The distinction here isn’t non-AI vs AI, it’s AI as librarian vs AI as writer.

When Google “knows what you mean”, it’s using computing power to SELECT from existing websites. It gives you a choice of the websites that you “mean”, and lets you do what you want with them. Google hasn’t stolen anything; it’s just functioning like a commercially biased librarian. Maybe a better analogy is the Yellow Pages, where companies have paid to catch your eye amid the otherwise alphabetical or subjectical index.

When Bing writes what Bing means, it’s illegitimately stealing the IP from those same websites and turning them into a “new” piece of writing. It’s also stealing your skill and ability to process those listings.

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Later update: The Edge chatbot doesn’t even know how Edge works! When I wanted to turn off the MSN “news” on Edge’s home page, the chatbot gave inaccurate instructions that didn’t match the actual functions of Edge.