Report: Google Becoming More Like Bing, Siri
Posted by Michael Nace on Thursday Mar 15, 2012 Under Android, Apple NewsGoogle, the world leader in online search, is reportedly set to tweak its search algorithm to be more like Bing and Apple’s Siri, with vast, new databases of information that can answer complex questions.
When you think search, you think “Google.” For well over a decade, they have been the undisputed leader in online search, dominating the search market, and even managing to effectively monetize search through their Google AdSense program. Competing search engines like Yahoo and Bing have only managed to hold on, garnering a nominal percentage of search traffic and market share. In essence, just as Xerox became ubiquitous with photocopying, so too has Google become synonymous with search.
A new report, however, indicates that the nature of search is changing — thanks in large part to smartphones — Bing and Siri are actually on the cutting edge of these new search trends, and Google is now trying to be more like them.
The Mail is reporting that new changes are coming to Google Search that will make it more like Bing and Siri, focusing more on answering users’ questions: “Google has quietly amassed information on 200 million of ‘entities’ – people, places, products – and the new version of search will feed users information about the ‘entity’ they are searching for. Instead of relying on Wikipedia, for instance, to provide facts and figures, Google will provide this information itself.”
This is a dramatic change for how Google currently answers questions in search: typically, a question is answered by providing a page from a website — such as from Wikipedia, eHow, or Ask, and not by drawing from raw data. According to the Mail, “Bing is the second most-popular search engine in the U.S. – and built do deliver answers to questions.”
However, what the Mail article fails to recognize is that this new trend in search has been driven primarily by smartphone users — and that it is Siri that is truly leading the way in “semantic search,” as it is called.
The iPhone 5 News Blog has long argued that Siri is a search engine — a new kind of search engine that is particularly well-optimized for mobile users who often use their smartphone to get answers and information to specific questions. Our theory was further supported by a report we covered on February 13th that the semantic search engine Wolfram Alpha was providing search results to 25% of all Siri search queries, and that Apple and Wolfram Alpha are moving closer together in business partnership.
It would appear that Google is now recognizing that they are behind on this new form of query-based search style brought on by mobile computing, and are working aggressively to match Bing and Siri in being able to deliver semantic search results. There is even a Siri-like Google/Android patent that we covered In an article I wrote on February 22nd, entitled “Patent Reveals Android Rival To Siri, Google Worried Siri Will Dominate Search.”
For as much as Google is often seen as an impenetrable brand when it comes to search, it appears that Apple is well-positioned to outflank them in the long run with Siri. This, combined with the ever-increasing success of the iPhone, shows Apple to be on a continued trajectory of success, with the prospect of eventually expanding their empire in the search market.
By Michael Nace
Michael Nace is the Publisher of the iPhone 5 News Blog and iPhone 6 News Blog. He has published articles about the iPhone since 2010.
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March 15th, 2012 at 10:13 am
You guys like these articles on Google/search? I know it is somewhat off the beaten path of talking about Apple gadgets, but I always feel like search is a huge part of smartphone use, so it has some relevance to this blog.
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March 15th, 2012 at 10:29 am
Michael,
As long as you can tie it to Apple in a direct way, I’m cool with it (since you asked). The iPhone5 news blog is “getting all growed up” with links from Drudge, and such. I just hope (and this is a selfish hope) you don’t lose focus. The main thing I like about this blog is the high quality reporting, and thoughtful responses from your readers.
Here’s to your entrepreneurial spirit!
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March 15th, 2012 at 10:37 am
I’ve liked all the articles on this blog, even when they weren’t exactly why ‘I’m here’. The opinions of both you and Charles are very considered from what I’ve seen, and the open discussions of your readers is insightful and entertaining. So keep on keepin’ on, it’s all been good.
I’m now a big Bing fan, I thought it would be a disaster but I’m glad to be wrong. At work I’m all Bing and elsewhere I’m Siri, they handle it all.
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March 15th, 2012 at 10:45 am
Thanks, guys. I have a new site in the works that would be a different format than this: a wide-ranging tech blog with a real edge. Something for geeks and non-geeks alike. But that wouldn’t affect this blog at all. Actually, my hope is that iPhone 5 News Blog readers would visit both.
But that’s still a ways off. The Blog will continue to be a prime focus, especially now that we’re iPhone 5 season.
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March 15th, 2012 at 11:26 am
I look forward to the new site, best of luck!
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March 15th, 2012 at 1:09 pm
I thought it was a great article and it did tie into Apple because of Siri and Google becoming more similar. Good luck with the new site when you get it started! I will be sure to check it out when it launches. I’m sorry that I have been on here in a while. I just finally got my smart meter issues dealt with today. I had to threaten my electric company with the Public Utilities Commission. It actually solved most of my issues that I had with my phone because of interference. iOS 5.1 was a big help, too! It doesn’t heat up as bad now. That’s a good thing!
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March 15th, 2012 at 10:50 pm
Great job Michael. Keep doing what your doing. I really like the articles and they all come back to Apple.
Will your new site allow us to bounce back and forth between it and this one?
Will you have a site that will cover all of Apple, not just the iphone stuff?
This has all been very informative and educational.
Thanks much.
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March 15th, 2012 at 10:58 pm
It’s always great to change it up. And this article does speak of Siri so that is always good to tie things in like that. Excellent article, great work!
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March 17th, 2012 at 11:50 am
Sorry for the late reply on this, JohnT. Actually, my plan is to publish a tech website that covers all tech — not just Apple — and that covers it from a less geek-oriented perspective. That way, you’ll still be able to get your geek on with blogs like this one, iPhone 6 News Blog, iOS 6 News Blog, etc.
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March 19th, 2012 at 10:16 am
hmmmm…….
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