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Study: Young users (9 to 18Y) ditch Google for AI, with unknown consequences

66 points · 119 comments · giuliomagnifico

  1. lordnacho · · focus · HN ↗
    AI is my default for just about any search now. From today:

    How did Cantor come up with his diagonal proof? It seems to have been dreamed out of nowhere

    Why are there advertisements for a shampoo containing caffeine? Does caffeine do something useful other than when you drink it?

    What happens in sense and sensibility?

    All of them give a decent answer, with the ability to ask follow ups. Eg, how does S&S compare with Pride and Prejudice? What about more recent novels connecting romantic choices with economic choices?

    All of them give you links to source material, in case you suspect they are just making it up.

    At the start of the millennium, Google search changed everything about how I look for information. Now it seems outdated.

    1. yoavm · · focus · HN ↗
      It's interesting — "knowing how to search" used to be a skill. One wouldn't search for "How did Cantor come up with his diagonal proof?", but rather "cantor diagonal proof origin". You would see "normies" searching and wanted to bang your head against the wall seeing them searching like they're talking.

      But seems like they won? Why know how to search when you can simply ask your question. You can even tyipe it layke dat and it would still work.

      1. nitwit005 · · focus · HN ↗
        You're absolutely wrong if you think those people are managing to get an answer first try now. People's searches remain frequently incoherent. There's a reason Google's AI results frequently end with some text asking for clarification, or guessing what you actually want to do.
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