When I first began hearing people saying ChatGPT was going to replace Google, I could understand why they might say that. ChatGPT is smart, effective and even sort of fun to talk to. But having used both pieces of software extensively, Google and ChatGPT, I don't think it's apples to apples. They're doing two different things, though both give you answers.
Let us start with what Google offers to all of us. It is decades old. All of us have grown up with Google. We Google whenever we want to learn something, news, how to fix a faucet, what's in our mind, we're singing the latest song, we Google it. Google gives us links, articles, videos, photos, shopping websites, and much more. It's a library where it has all and where all gets updated at any given moment.
ChatGPT is closer to conversing with a person who has read a lot of books and websites but not been on the internet in a couple of years. It responds in a friendly tone, which is pleasant, but sometimes it gives incorrect answers. Other times they are correct but respond in a way that it sounds correct but do not mention where it got the information. This becomes difficult to rely on when using it to accomplish something important. What I've learned is that Google maps out its intrigues. You trace where information has been created. You don't take the first response, you scroll and locate others. ChatGPT gives you one response. You can try again and it can be something entirely different. That is sort of strange and sort of awkward if you're trying to come to some conclusion or discover some need.
And Google is where you would go to buy something, find a restaurant near you or look at what is happening in the news. ChatGPT is not performing them as well. It has no concept of what happened yesterday. It cannot direct you on how to get directions to provide you with the shops around. So for the type of search we are conducting day by day, ChatGPT is actually not set up to do that.
I know others are impatient for new technology and must assume every new device is the next big thing. I get just as enthusiastic too when something really is good. We just don't have a good appreciation for the investment already made in tools already available. Google is not perfect, but it is fast, current and gives you a choice of things. That counts. We don't always need one solution or anything, we need choices.
Other have even gone so far as to say that ChatGPT can be added to search engines like Bing or Google, but not to the extent of doing away with them but as an addition. That is maybe more possible. Think of having the ability to search for something and have the ability to call up a readable, abstracted summary to start with and the usual list of links. That would actually be helpful.
I think ChatGPT is a wonderful instrument, specifically for brainstorming or creating or receiving answers not needing precision accuracy. But I don't think it is going to kill Google. None of us are probably going to change the way we search unless there is some really excellent reason to do so. I'll just keep using both of them, each doing its best for now.
