Google’s play on Search, Ads and AI feels obvious to me.
* They know search is broken.
* And that people use AI in part because it takes the ads and SEO crap out.
* IE, AI is now what Google was in 2000. A simple window onto the internet.
* Ads/SEO profits will fall with AI.
* But Google will then just insert shit into AI “answers” for money.
* Ads managed + up-to-date AI will be their new mote and golden goose.
See @caseynewton 's blog post: https://mastodon.social/@caseynewton/112442253435702607
I mean, this is obvious, right?
The whole issue with LLM models right now is that they are notoriously difficult to control. If it were up to Google, every single response would include a reference to some sponsored content - but they can’t do that without completely destroying the usefulness of the output and besmirching the sponsor’s brand.
Of course, as time passes, we’re going to refine this technology, until we have enough control to implement these terrible/profitable ideas. Like any aspect of life under capitalism, we can really only enjoy it while it lasts.
I hope at that point we have enough capable alternatives. Like, hopefully around the time they add ads is also the time when open-source models and apps have caught up again.
That search/SEO is broken seems to be part of the game plan here.
It’s probably like Russia burning Moscow against Napoleon and a hell of a privilege Google enjoy with their monopoly.
I’ve seen people opt for chatGPT/AI precisely because it’s clean, simple and spam free, because it isn’t Google Search.
And as @caseynewton said … the web is now in managed decline.
For those of us who like it, it’s up to us to build what we need for ourselves. Big tech has moved on
