All articles tagged with #ai search
Mozilla Firefox includes a built-in feature that allows users to switch search engines for a single query without changing their default settings. This capability helps users avoid AI-generated answers or keep specific searches out of their primary search history. Other major browsers lack this native tool, forcing users to rely on third-party extensions.
OxygenOS 16 adds five lesser-known tools to OnePlus devices: dynamic app and folder resizing on the home screen, an AI-powered Settings search for quicker navigation, screen-off gestures for unlocking and launching apps, adjustable Dark Mode darkness levels with third-party app support, and a built-in Speaker Cleaner to expel moisture and dust from speaker holes.
UK regulators (the CMA) order Google to add clearer source attribution and links to content used in AI-generated search results and to allow publishers to opt out of AI features; Google must implement new controls (including directory- and page-level opt-outs) and publish compliance reports within nine months, with testing in the UK before a potential global rollout.
In the wake of Google's AI-powered search overhaul announced at I/O 2026, DuckDuckGo saw an 18% week-over-week rise in US installs (peaking around 30%), with Apple-device installs up to 70% on a single day and traffic to its no-AI search page up about 23%. DuckDuckGo emphasizes choice over mandatory AI, offering AI as an option via duck.ai while relying on Bing results and its own crawling, framing itself as a privacy-first alternative. The broader AI-search market continues to expand as users seek control over AI integration rather than forced features.
A bug in Google's new AI-powered search shows up when users search the word 'disregard' (and 'ignore'), returning instructive messages like 'Message ignored' instead of standard results. The glitch, observed on both desktop and mobile, underscores growing pains in Google's AI-driven search following the I/O 2026 reveal, and prompts calls for a fix.
Google announced Gemini 3.5-powered upgrades to Search that support longer, more natural queries and nudge users toward a chatbot-driven, AI-enhanced results interface, plus new ‘information agents’ for Pro/Ultra subscribers. Separately, it unveiled intelligent eyewear—voice-controlled glasses with embedded cameras developed with Samsung, Warby Parker and Gentle Monster—set to hit shelves in fall, signaling a broader shift of Search into AI-assisted, personal assistant functionality.
Google Photos is continuing to refine its AI-powered Ask Photos search; a new toggle lets users switch between Classic Search and Ask Photos results, without changing the underlying search function, and Google says some popular searches have improved while AI results may still feel slow.
Perplexity launched in 2022 as an ad-free, citation-backed AI search, drawing early interest but failing to scale against Google and OpenAI due to reliance on external AI models, high operational costs, weak monetization, legal disputes over content scraping, and an unsuccessful Comet browser expansion, leaving it as a niche tool despite initial momentum.
Yahoo re-enters the AI game with Scout, an AI-powered 'answer engine' built into Yahoo Search that aims to guide users through the web rather than be a chatty assistant. Scout combines Yahoo’s vast content and data with Anthropic’s Claude and Bing-powered search data, promises structured summaries and a page of sources, and is designed to monetize with shopping affiliate links and bottom-ads while keeping Scout free. Yahoo says it won’t build a new foundation model, preferring grounding and personalization on top of others’ models. Early tests show Scout is more like a traditional search engine with conversational results than a conversational bot, and Yahoo envisions Scout becoming central to Yahoo Search over time, potentially challenging Google but with a long trajectory.
Google's Danny Sullivan advises SEOs to focus on traditional SEO practices and content quality rather than dramatic changes for AI search, emphasizing that technical SEO has become less critical due to advanced CMSs, and that prioritizing AI-specific SEO efforts currently offers minimal returns.
Snap Inc. announced a $400 million partnership with Perplexity AI to integrate its AI-powered search engine into Snapchat, enhancing its AI chatbot capabilities and opening new business avenues, with the integration expected in 2026. The company reported solid Q3 earnings, user growth, and a rebound in advertising revenue, despite challenges related to user engagement and regulatory compliance.
Snap Inc. and Perplexity are partnering to integrate Perplexity’s AI-powered answer engine into Snapchat, starting in early 2026, allowing users to ask questions and receive verifiable, conversational answers within the app, expanding Snapchat's AI capabilities and user engagement.
Google's VP of Product for Search highlights the growing importance of PR and high-quality content for AI-driven recommendations, emphasizing that AI search behaves similarly to human research, and that understanding user intent through multimodal and specific queries is crucial for ranking success in the evolving AI landscape.
OpenAI has introduced a new ChatGPT feature powered by GPT-5 that enhances its ability to search and analyze workplace information across multiple sources like Slack, Google Drive, and SharePoint, providing more accurate and comprehensive responses with citations, aimed at improving productivity for business, education, and enterprise users.
OpenAI has launched a new AI-powered web browser called ChatGPT Atlas on MacOS, aiming to compete with Google Chrome by integrating ChatGPT for search and browsing, including a paid agent mode for subscribers. The move reflects OpenAI's efforts to monetize its AI technology amid increasing competition and the rising popularity of AI-driven search solutions, although experts believe it may not significantly challenge established browsers like Chrome or Edge.