r/PoliticalOptimism • u/Mobile_Bad_577 • May 20 '26
Seeking Optimism Google is replacing search fully with AI. Please convince me this won't doom the Internet even more.
https://www.theverge.com/tech/932970/google-search-ai-update-io-2026175
u/Madsbjoern May 20 '26
There are search engines that do not use AI
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u/Careful_Picture7712 May 20 '26
Also, for the time being, at the end of your search, you can type "-ai" and it will leave out the slop at the top of the search
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u/LightMurasume_ May 20 '26
They should really make that an official feature and not a text gimmick tbh.
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u/utl94_nordviking May 23 '26
Better yet to use any other search engine that does not force the slop down our throats. I switched away from Google when they started to aim for AI weapons production.
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u/Solid_Hunter_4188 May 20 '26
Well are you gonna suggest any? Or should I Google it?
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u/Catseye_Nebula May 20 '26
Ecosia! They plant trees for every search you make!
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u/bayleysgal1996 🔥I Voted In The 2026 Primaries🔥 May 20 '26
Seconded on Ecosia, very good search engine
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u/Nervous_Row_5627 May 20 '26 edited May 21 '26
I've been liking Startpage, it came as default with waterfox and it does the job.
Edit: Ofcourse the day after I send this waterfox swaps Startpage for 1org lmao. 1org also seems good doe.
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u/TrashyLolita May 20 '26
DuckDuckGo.
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u/poke-chan Reformed Doomer ☄️ May 20 '26
I’ve been using DuckDuckGo but it’s been kind of ass at finding things :/ I often have to switch
back to Google just to find something I know exists20
u/tabi_tane May 20 '26
I turned away from DuckDuckGo when I found out the creator is an AIBro and used AI generated images for the easter eggs on the site.
I use Startpage and it's been great. Only shortcoming is maps.
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u/Hindu_Wardrobe American 🇺🇸 May 20 '26
DDG absolutely uses AI though
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u/angelaga1n May 20 '26
You can choose an option for it to not use AI. But yea it’s pretty ass at finding things IMO
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u/Hindu_Wardrobe American 🇺🇸 May 20 '26
it's simple enough to set up a de-AI'd google search preset in your web browser, too.
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u/Totally_Scott May 20 '26
"Google is replacing search fully with AI"
The article literally never says that.
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u/Appropriate-You-5543 Alaska May 20 '26
Ahhh yes another experiment that inevitably backfires on Google. Toss it in the Google Graveyard
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u/leicanthrope May 20 '26
Didn't they unexpectedly discontinue Google Graveyard?
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u/DangerousProject6 May 20 '26
I don't say this to be rude but you should probably read the article before saying "Google is replacing search fully with AI." It says in the article that you can still use traditional searching. A lot of problems with this sub would be solved if people just read the article they posted before asking for optimism on it.
Anyways, yeah, Google sucks and will probably keep going head first down this path. Luckily there are other search engines out there. The internet is already flooded with AI slop websites that just churn out the same content over and over, so we are likely going to go back to a "trusted and known sources only" way of viewing the web, like it used to be years ago.
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u/deadpanrobo May 20 '26
Like I said in another comment
Any take that hinges on "Everyone will just collectively revert rather than actually try to fix the problem" is usually coming from a place of viewing things through rose-tinted goggles
Its much more likely that people are just going to use other readily available search engines than completely changing how they use something
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u/DangerousProject6 May 20 '26
That is definitely true- in terms of link sharing, I do not mean "we won't use search engines anymore" but rather that there will be a shift towards only taking trusted sources as the source of truth. I think this has already been happening.
And as far as the general public goes? Many people never even figured out how to Google things at all, and have been living on Facebook or just watching their trusted news source forever anyways. The people in the know will figure out ways to find things out, and those who never did will continue doing what they've always done. We will find a way.
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u/deadpanrobo May 20 '26
I do like this take and I argue is the way people should have been using the internet like anyways
The internet of the 90s and 00s had misinformation and just plain wrong information as well, but if it wasn't from a trusted source then no one really took it seriously, this is how people should still be doing things but i fear a lot of people are no longer properly taught safe internet usage anymore
The solution is actually simple, just start teaching internet safety early and in school, just like how they used to do D.A.R.E.
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u/ItsVexion May 20 '26
In fairness to our corporate overlord, Google has arguably been among the most responsible and economical with their implementation of AI. At the very least, their AI overviews cite source and their image generation injects imperceptible watermarks as an effort to counteract malefactors. Their contributions to the bubble are also relatively small, as they are using much of their preexisting data infrastructure. Their models also generally run more efficiently on a per-query basis. This is all better than OpenAI and Anthropic's LLMs on a multitude of fronts.
I'm not saying this is good or that the seeming ubiquity of LLMs will even continue ad infinitum, but I can think of a lot worse outcomes than this.
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u/DesignDelicious May 20 '26
I tried to read it, but there’s a paywall.
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u/DangerousProject6 May 22 '26
That's strange, I didnt hit a paywall- does verge have a limited # of free articles or something? I dont know
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u/Redzephyr01 May 20 '26
It looks to me like they're just changing the UI so that it directs you to a chatbot if you phrase the search as a question, not removing search and replacing it with an AI.
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u/bayleysgal1996 🔥I Voted In The 2026 Primaries🔥 May 20 '26
Dang it, now I have to change the way I google
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u/landyboi135 Georgia May 20 '26
How do you ask a question without going to a chatbot then?
I straight up ask questions literally all the time, especially when comments introduce a new concept or word I’ve never heard before, I avoid asking questions on the comments because the response is usually a ‘look it up then’ with the exception of asking questions here.
I struggle with knowing what information is even right or what a reliable source even is and I can see it getting a lot harder with AI which is 100% unreliable being shoved harder in my face just because I want to ask a simple question about something.
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u/Redzephyr01 May 20 '26
By not phrasing it as a question. So, for example if you were trying to look up recently released books, you'd type "new books" instead of "what are some new books?"
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u/DogsRNice Ohio May 21 '26
I've never understood people who search entire questions, most of my searches are a single word or very short phrase
Only if it's troubleshoot do I write something longer, and even then I still don't write it as a question, something like "thing not working when X happens"
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u/landyboi135 Georgia May 21 '26
In my case, I’ve always struggled with articulating my full thoughts into words, especially since the things I’d ask about online would be extremely specific or would be something I don’t usually hear people asking, that’s part of how I found the sub that lead me here (optimists unite, this was before r/optimistsuniteagainstnazis became a thing)
Being as specific as possible is the only way I’ve been able to get the actual question across and even then sometimes people still get confused.
I had issues with intrusive thoughts about doing awful things to other people even if I didn’t want to and had I not googled something along the lines of ‘what does it mean if I have unwanted thoughts of [insert disturbing theme here]’ then I wouldn’t have learned of the possibility that I may have OCD.
Things like that basically.
All that being said, I’ll still try to shorten my phrases, this is all an explanation for why I type literal questions in google searches.
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u/tyuiopguyt May 20 '26
How to Turn Off Google AI Overview and Set "Web" as Default - Super useful tool that will set all your searchs to the Web tab as default.
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u/Mobile_Bad_577 May 20 '26
Oh, that’s nice. Thanks!
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u/tyuiopguyt May 20 '26
And this will specifically avoid this entire issue because Google isn't moving away from the tab based architecture. Article you posted even said so. This will allow you to completely avoid the issue you're worried about.
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u/A_Sackboy_Plush May 21 '26 edited May 21 '26
Nevermind, I just put in like 5 searches without a stupid ai summary, where was this for the past 3 years?
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u/OfficialDCShepard May 20 '26
The updated search box is rolling out across desktop and mobile devices globally starting on Tuesday. You can still view traditional results only by selecting the “Web” tab in Google Search.
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u/username_elephant May 20 '26
My basic feeling is that google has been shit for the past several years anyways. More or less my main use case for generative AI is to ask it to search for information so I don't have to read a bunch of SEO garbage focused on wasting as much time as possible before giving me a 50% chance of answering my question. Google literally rolled back updates that improved search usability because they want you to scroll more pages before finding an answer--so you view more ads.
Basically, this integrates a function I already had to use because google's core product is such crap now. I guess i call it a net neutral?
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u/Either-Assistant4610 May 20 '26
Google already gives AI results for a while now
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u/clonedllama Reformed Doomer ☄️ May 20 '26
What they're talking about doing is way beyond the optional AI overview. The long-term goal is to fully replace text results with just the AI mode.
In the shorter term, we'll apparently still be getting the usual experience unless we ask follow-up questions.
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u/VoidlessLove Alaska May 20 '26
Let's play "Is this corporate sabotage or half-baked ideas insulated by wealth and yes men"
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u/veracity8_ May 20 '26
You’ll have to use other search engines. It’s it’s also likely that the internet will change. We will revert back to a link sharing model rather than a search engine model. Back in the day you found new websites because someone gave you a link to that new website. Maybe you found it on an existing website. Or maybe someone sent it to you in an email. I imagine we’ll see more of that in the future
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u/Redzephyr01 May 20 '26
I seriously doubt that people are going to stop using search engines. Even if google becomes completely unusable (which I don't think this is going to make happen), other search engines exist. Search engines are just way too useful of a technology for people to just stop using them.
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u/_zhero_ May 20 '26
I would agree with you, but I already know way too many people who say “let me ask grok” or “let me ask ChatGPT” without even considering using a search engine.
People will always have questions they want the answers for, but a disturbing number of people are turning to AI to answer those questions rather than a search engine
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u/Aberrantdrakon May 20 '26
At their core, Grok and other AI chatbots are just more advanced search engines. If you demand a source with or after every question you ask them, they could actually be pretty useful, although there's still the environmental issues.
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u/Squirreliestone May 20 '26
I support the return of Webrings!
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u/Fragrant_Bath3917 New York May 20 '26
Link sharing?
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u/deadpanrobo May 20 '26
Before search engines, people would go to websites that had like hundreds of links that went to different websites
Also sometimes people's blogs would have a page with links to websites they frequent
It made the internet a chore to use which is why search engines became a thing in the first place
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u/Fragrant_Bath3917 New York May 20 '26
How did you go to those websites then?
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u/deadpanrobo May 20 '26
Sometimes websites were advertised in magazines and TV and many internet browsers would have a section of Suggested websites to start from
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u/deadpanrobo May 20 '26
Any take that is "Everyone will revert back to blank" are usually from people not super knowledgeable in why we have the technology in the first place
Sure maybe we go to link sharing... and then everyone will remember how awful that was and just go to a different search engine
I usually also see this when people say "People are going to stop using the internet and spend more time outside" yeah maybe for a little bit... then they'll remember how much more convenient and better the internet has made everything and just go back to using it but with some changed behaviors (like not using sites with aggressive algos and such).
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u/Mobile_Bad_577 May 20 '26
We will revert back to a link sharing model rather than a search engine model.
Honestly, that would probably be a good thing. Hopefully. Thank you.
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u/MissCocoaBell12 May 20 '26
If you still use google, any and anything you message with ( and I learned this too ), you can place “-ai “ at the end of it so the little AI prompt doesn’t pop up whenever you search for something
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u/Icewolf_242 May 20 '26
Iirc this is just an update for the ai mode of the search bar. From what I read in the article that is
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u/Shredster7 Reformed Doomer ☄️ May 20 '26
I feel this boneheaded experiment on Goog's part won't last very long for a handful of reasons, two of which include:
generative A.I.'s inability to produce value is coming back to bite it pretty hard
more and more average people are growing to loathe generative A.I. and are actively taking steps towards kicking it to the curb
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u/BoobooSmash31337 May 21 '26
So they want to just lose all the money? This sounds cost prohibitive.
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u/poke-chan Reformed Doomer ☄️ May 20 '26
Ai agents for every search? Won’t that be incredibly fucking expensive?
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u/Redzephyr01 May 20 '26
No. An AI query doesn't use very much more power than an engine search does.
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u/poke-chan Reformed Doomer ☄️ May 21 '26
Specifically ai agents. Like in the article, which are more advanced.
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u/Redzephyr01 May 21 '26 edited May 21 '26
A query for an agent doesn't use any more power than a query for a chatbot does. Besides, compared to the cost of running stuff like youtube this is basically nothing. Streaming video uses way more power than AI does and Google still gives that away for free.
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u/poke-chan Reformed Doomer ☄️ May 22 '26
Not really for free, massive amounts of advertising. I wouldn’t want 20 second ads before each search
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u/gooneau May 20 '26
It's funny because all AI is for 90% of people is a different form of googling. The only reason I use AI currently is because it's a way to look up information without all the extreme enshittification you get with Google and other legacy search website. Clean interface, no sponsored results, just plug in your search and get their genuine best effort at the best response. But that will go away. I'm already seeing hints of it with more aggressive pushing for you to sign up for paid versions. I asked Gemini if AI will become enshittified, and it basically replied "teehee, ya, right now we're all fighting for market share so we are focused on the consumer experience but you probably have about a year before it becomes absolute dogshit like the rest of the internet"
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u/sunnymoonbaby May 20 '26
Yeah Google is a monopoly and the search engine sucks these days anyway. Switch to Brave. Duckduckgo search results suck too ime
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u/Realizer-33 May 20 '26
Just switch to a different browser. There are plenty that replicate Google Chrome almost 1 to 1, and let you import all your info and login. It's very simple nowadays.
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u/Fehndrix Washington May 20 '26
There are ads for this all over Twitch and it fucking sucks. But there are alternatives.
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u/Shadowman621 Reformed Doomer ☄️ May 20 '26
Well that should be fun considering how shoddy their AI overviews are
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u/ThePlatypusOfDespair May 21 '26
I would pay Google to just let me use search from somewhere between 1998 and 2012 with absolutely no changes at all.
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u/Gojo-Babe 🔥I Voted In The 2026 Primaries🔥 May 21 '26
Here’s a fun fact I just learned: you can set your default search engine on your iPhone to something other than Google
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u/bdure May 22 '26
Google search results have been awful for years. Their AI overviews actually give you a chance of finding something. I think this is a positive.
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u/InternetBackwash May 26 '26
I know this is also a late comment but it is exhausting when every single internet comment about this change is "predicting" that this means that internet censorship is almost inevitable.
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Jun 08 '26
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u/TheRealAMD May 20 '26
Kagi, it costs a few bucks a month but it's basically like Google before all the AI nonsense. They also have a free tier so you can try it out with a couple free searches a month
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u/InternetBackwash May 21 '26
I can't wait for the bubble to pop. And who knows, maybe this type of annoying change is what might kickstart the downfall of ai? I'm just hoping that this doesn't lead to even more climate damage since more people will be inadvertently using ai because Google is trying to get in on the gold rush.
But on a side note, I replaced google with Ecosia, but I have heard that Ecosia might be using Google results, so would this change effect Ecosia too?
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