Remember when Google was good? You know, back when there were barely any ads and no AI overview. If you’re not ready to jump ship just yet, I found a website that lets you make your own Google search engine. Customize it to include websites you like (or exclude the ones you don’t), then bookmark your finished masterpiece for your future searches.
ChatGPT’s new search engine is here
When ChatGPT launched on Nov. 30, 2022, I knew the web — and the world — would change forever. A week later, I predicted on national radio Google’s days would be numbered. People laughed at me, and I got notes from listeners telling me I was nuts.
Last week, OpenAI made its ChatGPT search engine, SearchGPT, available for paid subscribers. Let me tell you, Google isn’t dead yet, but it’s suffered a mortal wound.
I hate to say it, but I told ya so.
‘What’s the big deal?’
Google Search officially launched on Sept. 4, 1998. It was awesome for a long time, but over the last five to seven years, it’s gotten consistently worse. Results are stuffed with spam and sites rigging the system. Cybercriminals sneak in malware, and scammers aren’t banned from buying ads to dupe people.
Earlier this year, Google added an AI Overview feature within Search, and it’s supposed to be their whiz-bang Gemini solution. I know a few folks in their twenties who worked for the company hired to fix Gemini’s answers. That’s why Gemini often provides responses based on an individual’s agenda, political stance and morals.
Until SearchGPT, ChatGPT’s answers were based on sets of data fed into the platform over time. Now, OpenAI has partnered with providers for news, maps, stocks, weather and sports information. Heads-up: Anything behind a paywall stays off-limits.
‘What should I use it for?’
Anything you’d search for on Google. It’s a totally different vibe, really. Google Search is loaded with ads, and Bing isn’t much better. On SearchGPT, you get a cleaner experience without all the clutter. Take a look:
Note that it knew I was in Phoenix based on my computer’s IP address. I love that it tells me which TV and radio stations are broadcasting the game, too.
Here’s another example of SearchGPT in use:
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Hackers are selling old routers to spies
They’re using these routers for denial-of-service (DoS) attacks and spamming inboxes. Meanwhile, a man’s been cyberstalked by a former roommate — nightmare stuff. Plus, Microsoft got hacked, and OpenAI is launching a search engine.
PR BS: Google’s CEO says the search engine will “change profoundly” next year … without giving any details. This news comes as Google is updating its crappy Gemini AI model to compete with OpenAI’s ChatGPT and with Perplexity. Dang, it’s like watching the Titanic sinking.
Let’s flash back to 1990, when the first internet search engine was released. Was it called … A.) WebCrawler, B.) Archie, C.) AltaVista or D.) Lycos?
$20 billion
Google Chrome’s estimated value on the open market. In August, a judge ruled Google is monopolizing web search. Selling Chrome is one way to fix that big problem. With 3 billion monthly users and a 61% market share, it’s a behemoth. Microsoft Bing could go out with a bang!
Fix your website! 4 ways to get more people to your site using SEO
A savvy business owner knows the value of website optimization. In today’s cutthroat digital marketplace, an SEO-friendly website with solid keyword research, meta tags, good page speed and backlinks helps you stand out. If you want to know how to improve search engine rankings for small business websites, you’ve come to the right place.
📚 Useful site: WorldCat.org is the world’s largest library search engine. It connects you to libraries around the world — a catalog of 405 million books, 440 million articles, 10 million musical scores and lots more. How does a librarian organize their music collection? The Dewey Decibel System! (I couldn’t resist.)
🚢 Google = The Titanic: That’s how The Wall Street Journal now describes the search engine, which is on the verge of sinking. Here’s why: AI tools like ChatGPT, Gen Z searches on TikTok and, of course, Google’s increasingly worse search results. I called this two years ago. It’s nice to see the WSJ catching up.
ChatGPT Search: The (maybe? probably?) Google Search-killer is finally popping up on free ChatGPT accounts. Check yours: Log into ChatGPT and look for the world icon at the bottom. Here’s what it’s best for.
🔍 Breaking up Google’s search monopoly: The DOJ has some remedies lined up: Forcing Google to share its data with competitors, restricting those default search browser deals, and even splitting off Chrome or Android. Google says these “solutions” would hurt consumers (their cash cow) and stifle innovation. Google might become like Ask Jeeves by the time this government legal battle is settled.
Told ya this was going to happen: Google Search is losing money with so many of us relying on ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Perplexity and other AI bots instead. Now, Google’s serving up AI search results with a twist — ads. You’ll see “sponsored” next to the content. Say you search for “how to get grass stains out of jeans.” Along with the tips, Google will display ads for cleaning products. Be careful where you click.
Storing cash in Venmo or Cash App? Your wallet's in danger
Unlike the money in your bank, you can lose your funds sitting in these apps. Plus, a hacker found thousands of big biz secrets, a new Amazon scam is spreading, and ChatGPT teases a search engine.
💸 This is funny: Microsoft wanted to give Apple their search site, Bing, for free. Apple said no thanks because Bing sucks and doesn’t generate enough ad revenue. Instead, Apple paid Google $22 billion so their search engine would be the default on iPhones. Microsoft should’ve called theirs Bang instead of Bing; all the guys would’ve been able to say, “Hey, I Banged Margot Robbie and a few other hotties last night.”
🔍 How do you spell monopoly? G-O-O-G-L-E: A federal judge ruled it was illegal for Google to pay $26 billion for other web browsers and phone manufacturers to make it their default search engine (paywall link). How to fix this mess? Make Google’s parent company, Alphabet, sell off Google or invalidate the illegal payoff and let manufacturers select their own search engines.
In 1999, Larry Page almost sold Google before the deal fell through. Terms included 1% of search engine Excite and how much money? Was it … A.) $750,000, B.) $1.5 million, C.) $3 million or D.) $10 million?
Google filters out Trump
The search engine giant claims they’re filtering out political violence, but could there be more to the story? Get the scoop in this short podcast.
Google is still the most-visited website in the world. What’s No. 2? Is it … A.) Facebook, B.) YouTube, C.) Wikipedia or D.) Chinese search engine Baidu?
Just the facts, ma’am: Consensus is an AI search engine for finding gems in research papers. A free account includes unlimited searches. Neat!