Part 9/11:
The Evolution of Search Engines
The history of search engines can be viewed through three major phases:
Information Retrieval Engines: These early systems (e.g., AltaVista, Yahoo) relied on keyword matching and links, providing list-based results.
Answer Engines: Emerging in the late 2000s and early 2010s, these sought to deliver direct answers using AI, exemplified by Google and Bing.
Action Engines: The current phase, driven by advanced AI and conversational interfaces (e.g., ChatGPT, DALL·E), that generate new content and personalize experiences.
Google's new AI search platform exemplifies this latest transition, shifting toward a world where search is less about browsing links and more about engaging, creating, and acting upon information.