Technology

Profit over functionality aside, one thing that can make Google slightly more tolerable is to switch it into "web search" mode. This strips away all the AI crap, sponsored links, etc. apparently there are ways you can set it to be the default. I find I use Google less and less anyway, but it's a good option when the first page is useless garbage.

The number of times the Google AI summary has either outright lied or given me some horrible hallucinated approximation of an answer is disgusting. Asking it anything remotely complicated, technical, or uncommonly searched gives the most egregious results. It's to the point that I question anything it says, which means it's truely useless. At best, I read a few lines, see if the information seems relevant, then I click on its source links, often to find that the information stated just isn't at those links.

I have no love for google, but this can easily be misinterpreted. Within the screenshot, there are two mentions about studies. The first one refers to Google's internal studies that were disclosed to the courts, and the second one refers to an independent study from WalletHub. By cropping the text in this way it is easy for someone to conclude that the referenced study in the final paragraph is Google's internal study (at least that is how I read it), but it is not.

The antitrust case claims about the internal studies are found in page 48 of 1:20-cv-03010-APM.

Here is the screenshot:

The source documents can be found in the trial exhibits. Unfortunately, the specific internal tests are referenced as UPX1082, and this document does not appear to publicly released.

One can look at this combined information and reach the conclusion that Google is actively decreasing the quality of results to keep users longer. But it is still that, forming an opinion based on some available evidence, not a proven assertion.

The "I love capitalism because it makes consumer products and tools more efficient, useful, and affordable" crowd is going to have a hard time explaining this one.

I remember when just 'browsing' the internet (google) was a pass time. Like you could just search random things into google and find something interesting or novel. The earliest iterations of google basically functioned exactly how you'd want a search engine to and needed zero improvement. we really do live in a fucked world where a technology or service can be perfected but inevitably made worse over time to the benefit of no one but the top

Reminds me of how they shut down the incredibly successful Vine (short form video) because they figured they’d make more money with Periscope (very long form video). Despite literally nobody wanting it.

These tech bros live in a deluded bubble with no understanding on what average people want.

I really wonder what goes through the heads of people designing these awful experiences when they do so and how nihilistic you have be be in experiment review just view the world in pure metrics and sign off.

Did something happen?