While ChatGPT itself is not designed to be a search engine, natural language models like ChatGPT can have several implications for how people interact with Web Search. Every smart business that relies on web traffic and all SEO and digital marketing experts want to know how ChatGPT will change internet search. In this article, we look at some potential ways ChatGPT and similar models might impact internet search.
How ChatGPT Will Change Internet Search
Conversational Search
Users may engage in more conversational and natural language queries when searching. Instead of using short, keyword-focused queries, they might ask questions or provide more context.
Contextual Understanding
ChatGPT and similar models can better understand and respond to the context of a conversation. This could lead to more context-aware and accurate search results.
Assistance with Queries
Users might use conversational agents like ChatGPT to refine and elaborate on their search queries. The model can assist in clarifying the user’s intent. You will already see websites like Quora use ChatGPT for users to get better relevant answers. It will give you what you are looking for straight to the point. Google’s Featured Snippets is still a good tool for users to get what they want. But it only summarises what the Google algorithm thinks is the right answer from the website that ranks at the top rather than giving you more detailed information culled from various sources all over the web.
Personalisation
Natural language models can be leveraged to understand user preferences and provide more personalised search results based on the user’s history and context. This will mean you will not have to search for specific answers among different web pages across the internet. The AI language model will do it for you.
Content Summarisation
ChatGPT can help in summarising lengthy search results or articles, providing users with concise information in response to their queries. This will help professional internet search users like students, SEO and digital marketing firms, content writers, researchers and more. It will further help regular users get concise, relevant and correct answers.
Natural Language Interfaces
Search interfaces may become more natural language-oriented, allowing users to have dynamic conversations to refine their searches or explore related topics. You can change what you want easily and undertake internet searches with more accurate results.
Multimodal Search
Integrating natural language models with visual understanding could enhance multimodal search capabilities, allowing users to describe or ask questions about images. This is a revolution waiting to happen. Imagine what will happen if you are able to say or type a command and ChatGPT or any other AI model goes and churns out for you an original image with no copyright issues right on the search results page – which you can download and use as you like. This is going to happen sooner rather than later.
Reducing Ambiguity
ChatGPT can assist in reducing ambiguity in search queries. Users may receive clarifying questions to refine their queries and provide more accurate results. If you use ChatGPT you will know that it gives better answers to queries related to coding, formulae, etc. This will also help you reduce any stress of searching for answers on the internet. Sites like StackExhange are good but you will also find more snarky irrelevant answers there than what anyone should read in a day. ChatGPT does not judge you and helps you solve urgent, important and even non-important problems.
Enhanced Voice Search
With improved natural language understanding, voice-activated search systems may become more conversational and better at interpreting user intent. This will mean you get answers even if you are unable to type because you are busy. Imagine getting to use the power of your voice to the fullest to make your day more productive.
Improved User Engagement
Conversational search experiences could lead to increased user engagement, as users feel more comfortable interacting with the search interface in a conversational manner. Remember what we said about snarky answers? They spoil your mood. The internet can do without bad manners. We have tolerated trolling and whatnot in the name of free speech. It is time to remove them from your life for good.
To Sum Up
It is important to note that the implementation of these changes depends on how developers and search engine providers integrate natural language models into their systems. Additionally, ethical considerations, privacy concerns, and the need for responsible AI practices will play a crucial role in shaping the evolution of conversational search powered by models like ChatGPT.
In the next post, we will see how business owners can deal with changes that ChatGPT and other AI models will bring to online search.
