OpenAI’s “temporary prototype” search tool could be a Google killer as user experience reportedly worsens on mobile devices with “just way too many ads on the page”

OpenAI's "temporary prototype" search tool could be a Google killer as user experience reportedly worsens on mobile devices with "just way too many ads on the page"

What you need to know

  • On top of being ruled a monopolist in the search landscape, Former Google Engineer  Arvind Jain says AI tools like OpenAI’s SearchGPT could give Google a run for its money in the search landscape. 
  • The Engineer claims Google is focused on generating profit, which has negatively impacted its service’s user experience with annoying ads.
  • However, critical issues are preventing these AI tools from reaching prime time, including a lack of attribution to the source and instances of hallucinations and misinformation. 

As a seasoned researcher with over two decades of experience in the tech industry, I have witnessed the evolution of search engines from simple keyword-based systems to sophisticated AI-powered tools. The latest development, the emergence of AI-driven answer engines like OpenAI’s SearchGPT, has piqued my interest.


It was recently determined in a U.S. DOJ antitrust case that Google holds a monopoly and has taken actions to preserve this position, as stated by Judge Amit Mehta in his 277-page decision. While Google is waiting for guidance from regulators on how to address its illegal monopoly in search, experts caution that it may face greater challenges due to the development of advanced AI-based internet search tools such as OpenAI’s SearchGPT.

In simpler terms, Microsoft has expressed concerns about Google not playing fairly during their antitrust proceedings, similar sentiments were shared by CEO Satya Nadella previously. He suggested that Microsoft was prepared to pay around $15 billion yearly as a way to strike a deal with Apple. According to him, this opportunity could be transformative for the company.

Based on documents from an old antitrust investigation, it appears that Apple has no immediate plans to cut ties with Google. It’s said that no amount of money offered by Microsoft could persuade Apple to switch to Bing, as they found Bing’s search capabilities lacking and its monetization potential inadequate. Reports suggest that Google pays around $26 billion annually to keep its search engine set as the default across all Apple devices.

AI is rapidly redefining search

OpenAI's "temporary prototype" search tool could be a Google killer as user experience reportedly worsens on mobile devices with "just way too many ads on the page"

Based on statements made by former Google engineer Arvind Jain, it appears that Google prioritizes earning profits through its services. This focus has reportedly affected the quality of Google Search for users. If competitors can capitalize on this perceived weakness, they might potentially dethrone Google from its leading position in search engines.

While speaking to Observer, Jain indicated:

The situation was deteriorating, noticeably so on mobile devices, as they were overloaded with an excessive number of advertisements.

However, while Jain believes answer engines powered by large language models (LLMs) like SearchGPT (already branded Google killer) and Perplexity pose a great threat to conventional search engines, there’s still a lot of work that needs to be done. “Personally, as a user, I don’t feel comfortable going to these answer engines,” the engineer added.

He listed a lack of attribution to the source in the compactly packed AI-generated answers as a major issue, especially with the rampant instances of AI hallucinations, misinformation, and outright generation of wrong answers.

Although it’s unlikely, there’s a chance that certain key problems might be resolved down the line, opening up opportunities for fresh competitors to challenge Google’s stronghold on the search market.

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2024-10-02 16:08