Thursday, October 24, 2024

Helpful Or Weird?

Several months ago I often started seeing Google AI (Artificial Intelligence) Overviews at the top of the screen when I did an internet search.

At first I shunned the summaries, preferring to click on the old reliable hyperlinks. However, I'm starting to see the advantages of an artificially generated summary of information from multiple sources.

To see what the AI engine could do I did a search for 'Google AI Overview' (pretty meta, right?). According to the Overview from that search, a generative AI learns patterns and determines which links to include. It's available for some, but not all, searches.

However, not all of the Overview information is correct, and you should do a fact check if the answer doesn't feel right. For example, in my search the Overview said you had to be signed in to your Google account. That was originally true, but changed back in August.

If you use Google for searching you can't turn off the AI Overview feature, but there are a couple of ways to get around it. One is to use the Web tab at the top of the search results just under the search box. Some browsers may not show the Overviews. Depending on your browser, you can install an extension that blocks the feature.

Did you know about the new Google feature? Have you used it? What do you think about it?

Five years ago today: What The Heck Is Cascara?

15 comments:

  1. Haven't noticed this thanks for thes heads up -Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com

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  2. I see it pop up about half the time but I usually check the URLs. I use the BRAVE browser but will do a Google search. Google still has the best results.

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    1. Google is hands down the best search engine.

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  3. I have seen AI Overviews, but they don't always appear. I find information is often misleading and contradictory, so try to look at different sources.
    I copied you and did the 'Google AI Overview' and one of the things it said was as follows:
    'AI Overviews is currently only available in the United States, but you can access it from other countries using a VPN set to the US. '
    Clearly, incorrect, as I am in UK and haven't done any 'setting' of anything, or have I completely misunderstood? Confusion!

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    Replies
    1. Obviously, the system has a far way to go in its accuracy.

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  4. Do you remember that SNL skit about robot insurance? Ha ha. I think we need that now!

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    1. I had forgotten about it, but pulled it up based on your recommendation. Funny stuff!

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  5. I'm confused. Still trying to understand real intelligence - not yet ready for AI.

    God bless.

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    Replies
    1. I think many people would say the same thing.

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  6. I have not noticed it popping up. Not sure I like all of the AI stuff. makes me feel really uncomfortable. also, I'm not sure that everything is correct when using it.

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  7. It's fascinating in a way because its a collective brain of anything that's been online. All of us have in some contributed to the Ai brain I guess. And some of our brains are not that great and some of our contributions are very shady indeed.

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  8. Actually, I'm starting to read those AI summaries first these days. I do find them often helpful.

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