HomeWinBuzzer NewsMeta Joins the AI Search Battle Alongside OpenAI, Google, Perplexity

Meta Joins the AI Search Battle Alongside OpenAI, Google, Perplexity

Meta is building an AI search engine to rival Google and Microsoft, aiming to bring real-time answers to WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook users

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Meta is developing a proprietary AI search engine to reduce its reliance on Google and Microsoft’s Bing, positioning itself within the rapidly expanding AI search space. The upcoming tool, according to a report in The Information, is set to power Meta’s AI chatbot across apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook, a move that could reshape how users on these platforms access real-time information. Meta’s new project underscores the fierce competition in the AI-powered search sector as big tech companies aim to redefine search with more contextually aware, conversational AI.

Meta’s Goal: Powering Meta AI with Real-Time, Direct Answers

For now, Meta AI´s  chatbot central to this search engine initiative, depends on Google and Bing to deliver users data on stocks, current events, and sports. By working on an in-house AI search engine, Meta wants its chatbot to offer direct answers based on Meta’s systems without leaning on third-party engines. A source close to the project suggests that by making this shift, Meta hopes to provide faster, self-sufficient responses that bring users directly to the data they need.

In the past year, AI search tools have become essential to tech companies’ strategies for engaging users. Meta’s venture follows several other developments: Google introduced its Gemini-powered Search Generative Experience (SGE) in May, allowing users in the U.S. to see AI-generated summaries tailored for complex questions. Unlike typical search results, which may only show links, SGE uses Gemini AI to pull data from various sources, synthesizing responses directly within the search results. Microsoft, too, upgraded its Bing interface in July, moving standard search links to the sidebar and making room for AI-generated summaries as the primary response for queries.

Google and OpenAI’s Moves in AI Search

Meta’s move into search coincides with its competitors’ major advancements. OpenAI made headlines earlier this year, launching a closed beta of ChatGPT Search in May as an AI-driven alternative to Google and Bing. ChatGPT Search, accessible through search.chatgpt.com, signals OpenAI’s aim to provide an AI-centric, conversational search experience. This project, strategically revealed a day before Google’s I/O conference, shows the company’s ambition to challenge traditional search models and drive new user experiences in finding information online.

Meanwhile, Google’s own approach, launched just days after OpenAI’s entry, is driven by its SGE and Gemini AI. Google’s Gemini enables users to pose complex questions, delivering detailed summaries based on aggregated data from across the web. The use of AI overviews is limited to specific queries where traditional search falls short, which Google has found helpful in keeping click-through rates high among younger demographics. Liz Reid, Google’s head of Search, describes the SGE’s objective as meeting user needs by combining direct answers with links for further exploration.

Microsoft Bing’s AI Updates Aim for Comprehensive Answers

In contrast, Microsoft has redesigned Bing to emphasize AI-generated summaries for specific user questions, an interface change unveiled in July. This new layout provides expanded responses and relegates traditional search results to the sidebar. Although the AI-generated summaries are designed for ease, Microsoft acknowledges that certain users may miss the variety offered by standard results. However, the company believes that the new interface still supports a well-rounded web experience by balancing summaries and clickable links.

Ahead of the upcoming U.S. presidential election, Google has applied safeguards to limit the spread of misinformation across its AI services. In September, the company announced specific rules for generative AI tools like Gemini, ensuring they avoid election-related content. YouTube’s live chat AI summaries, another AI-driven service, will display informative panels for political candidates to help users access verified details and candidate websites. Google has also introduced new indicators in the Google Play store to highlight official government apps, enhancing voter access to accurate election data.

Navigating Copyright in AI Search

As Meta’s search engine develops, industry-wide copyright concerns loom. Recently, Meta confirmed that its AI chatbot would source content from Reuters for real-time updates, an agreement designed to address some of the legal challenges AI firms face over content use. In recent months, several publishers, including the New York Times, have contested AI companies over how their content is scraped and used to train models. Such cases underscore an ongoing debate over how AI firms compensate creators. Perplexity AI, a newcomer in the AI search scene, has also addressed this issue, introducing features for both public web and internal file searches and offering team workspaces for document organization. The platform’s approach highlights the demand for AI-driven tools that balance data privacy and user control.

Meta’s Shift Reflects Broader Trends in AI Search

With AI tools becoming essential for major tech platforms, Meta’s shift toward an in-house search engine reflects a growing need for self-sufficiency. Rather than relying on traditional search leaders, Meta plans to expand AI’s role within its ecosystem, aligning it with industry-wide moves by companies like Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI. Each has pioneered unique applications of AI for delivering information, setting the stage for Meta’s potential impact on the industry. By investing in a proprietary AI search engine, Meta is aiming to deliver more controlled, platform-specific user interactions across its social media and messaging services, adding a new dimension to the race for AI-powered search dominance.

Last Updated on November 7, 2024 2:18 pm CET

Markus Kasanmascheff
Markus Kasanmascheff
Markus has been covering the tech industry for more than 15 years. He is holding a Master´s degree in International Economics and is the founder and managing editor of Winbuzzer.com.

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