I've recently decided to take a break from AI, and I remember the days when Google searches felt easier. It seems like my friends and I have been noticing that search engines might not be as effective anymore. I'm not sure if it's because I've relied on AI so much that I forgot how to search efficiently or if it's something else. I'd love to hear how you all approach Google searches—what techniques do you use for better results? Specifically, if I want to start a project, should I search for phrases like 'project X examples' or 'how to build project X with tools Y'? Thanks for your help, and have a great day!
4 Answers
One thing I do is focus on reputable sources for my searches. I often check GitHub for libraries I'm using, official documentation, and any trusted websites I can find. While search results can be less reliable now, digging into package managers like npm or Maven can lead you to solid resources, even if AI can sometimes give questionable info.
Using advanced search features can make a huge difference! You can try Google’s Advanced Search to refine your queries. Just search for 'Google Advanced Search' or click 'Search tools' in Google to find options like 'Verbatim' for exact matches. For code-related searches, I find GitHub’s advanced search tool super helpful too.
I've switched to using Kagi as my search engine lately. While they do use AI, you can choose not to see AI-generated results by default, and it allows you to customize site rankings. Plus, there are no ads! Just keep in mind that it's subscription-based, but I think it's worth it.
Remember, Google’s search is still powered by AI! So while you’re detoxing from AI tools, keep in mind that Google uses natural language processing now. You can still type your queries naturally, or try dropping in some Boolean search terms if you're feeling adventurous!
True! Google has been using something similar to LLMs for years now. It's interesting how the search dynamics have changed over time!
You can skip the AI prompts by just scrolling down for the traditional search results, which are still there beneath all the AI suggestions.