Search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo have helped billions navigate the ocean of information stored in the internet. Being the primary method used by Internet users to find answers to their queries for almost 25 years. They served as the concierge that helped users find what they’re looking for in an instant. 

Despite Google’s massive $2.2 trillion market cap, is it time for users to move on to AI? However, since the inception of OpenAI’s Chat-GPT, there has been a drastic shift in user preference when it comes to choosing between AI and search engines.

A study conducted by prominent researchers from Miami University, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and The University of Hong Kong have found that this is not the case. 95 volunteers were gathered by the researchers, and 48 were randomly allocated to use ChatGPT and 47 to use Google. Here’s what they found out:

• When using AI, users are quicker than when using conventional tools (like Google).
• People who struggle the most with traditional tools benefit disproportionately from AI's ability to close skill gaps.
• AI is preferred by users over traditional technology.

It’s just better

Overtime, Generative-AI results from either text-based, image generation, and video generation have drastically changed since they were first launched. The research compared ChatGPT 3.5 to Google Search, despite ChatGPT being an older version. Surprisingly, ChatGPT outperformed Google by a significant margin. 

ChatGPT completed three tasks in 5.79 minutes, while Google took 14.95 minutes. This means using AI was 158% more efficient than using Google Search, the largest productivity boost observed in the study's analyses. Coincidentally, the second runner up for this test was Github’s CoPilot with helping programmers be 128% more productive.

With this revelation, should you solely rely on AI for your searches? Before you make that decision, there are a few factors users need to understand before having full reliance on AI:

Misinformation: AI relies on information fed by them through machine learning and large language models. The data being fed to these AIs usually come from data brokers that are subject to manipulation.

Over-reliance: While technology is meant to help make the user’s life easier by carrying out the mundane and tedious tasks, it must be used as a tool. Over-reliance on AI may disrupt learning opportunities, especially for the educational system.

Mishandling of data: You may not see it, but it may be in the fine print of the AI’s terms & conditions. Whether it is Google or OpenAI’s Chat-GPT, they are legally allowed to sell your data to data brokers if you’ve agreed to the terms & conditions.

How can I protect my data?

Finding the right AI tool that not only refuses to sell your data out, but also empower you to use your data for the user’s benefit is the ideal AI tool. For users looking to both utilize AI for their searches and protect their data, Vana is a viable option to use.

Vana has one primary goal, to give power back to the people by allowing them to own their data. Vana does this by having  a native support for data pooling via data DAOs, and an EVM-compatible layer 1 blockchain designed specifically for collective ownership of private digital assets—the private data that powers AI in the future. This allows for both incentivization for users through its 16 liquidity pools, and saving data through data ownership on a decentralized AI platform.

While AI has become convenient in our daily lives, it is also important to utilize both AI and search engines when navigating information on the internet. Always practice proficient media literacy as both search results and AI generated results are subject to misinformation and manipulation.