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Asklemmy @lemmy.ml Jaluvshuskies @lemmy.world

[Discussion] What's your thoughts on AI generated search engines compared to other ways to find information?

Like most of you, I used reddit as solely my only source for finding information. Looking to hear your guys' thoughts on this topic, and hopefully explain and share some knowledge in a more sophisticated manner than I can describe. (also, I hope this is an appropriate place to post?)

I have ran into this discussion a few times across the fediverse, but I can't for the life of my find those threads and comments lol

I believe that a non-corporate owned platform with user-generated information is most optimal, like wikipedia. I don't know the technicalities, but I feel like AI can't replace answers from human experiences - humans who are enthusiasts and care about helping each other and not making money. This is one of those things where I feel like I know the "best" way to find information, but I don't know the deep answers of why, and what makes the other platforms worse (aside from the obvious ads, bloatware, and corporate greed)

I don't know much about this topic, but I'm curious if you guys have actual real answers! Thread-based services like this and stack overflow (?) vs chatgpt vs bing vs google, etc.

EDIT: Wow, all your responses are fantastic. I'm not very knowledgeable about the subject so I can't really continue everyone's responses with a discussion, but I love and appreciate the insight in this thread! But I'll try to think of some follow up questions :)

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6 comments

  • I think people are way to quick to dismiss AI on the basis that it’s not always factual. Searching for stuff and adding Reddit is a great way to get non factual information as well. Everyone that has great insight into a subject knows how horrible many highly upvotes comments are.

    Wether you use AI, Reddit or Google, you have to do a quick analysis of how credible it seems. I use all three of them, but more and more AI for niche searches that are hard to get good results for.

    • Yea, I sort of agree - that's kind of why I think that doing research yourself by looking across dozens of sources, posts, and comments, then making your own judgment call is the way. Idk I guess maybe it's just my experience, but I usually find that a comment with misinformation is downvoted to oblivion with responses as to why it's wrong, and the most helpful solution is usually upvoted, with replies like "you're a life saver" or "this is the real answer. thank you!!". Obviously I don't mean like 100% of content is like this, there will be bad content everywhere, but I take every solution with a grain of salt while looking at other solutions, and decide for myself (or maybe I misunderstood you lol)

      There are sooooooo many times, way more than I can count, that I had an INCREDIBLY niche problem (usually tech related) and bam, someone on reddit had the same issue, and either figured it out & posted the solution, or the wack solution is in the comments. I never ever find this information on other random articles or "official help threads". This happened so much that I didn't google a single piece of information without adding "reddit" to it

      I feel like AI would be better for simple things like an excel formula, or ordinary information? For now, at least. But, I am trying to learn more about this subject and truly see the legitimate capabilities of AI

      Then again, what do I know lol

  • I personally do not like the idea of AI powered "search" engines since AI has been known in the past to absolutely make stuff up and site fake articles that don't actually exist.

    I don't remember the exact article, but I do remember the story of either a lawyer or law professor (I can't remember which) who asked an AI chatbot about himself and it came up citing a fake news article about him having sexual relations with a student of his (if I am remembering this all correctly).

    Also, I prefer a traditional search where I am given a ton of varying links to different web pages displayed in a listed order so that way I can open a link and if I don't find what I'm looking for, just close said link and try another one. Compare that to any time I've used Perplexity chatbot where at most at the end of each response I'm given a few different links that may or may not contain the answer I'm looking for if they're even legitimate.

  • Machine learning seems to be very good at generating believable persuasive writing, and not at all good at determining truth from fiction, even worse than people. This is an absolutely deadly combination and our rush to use it in this capacity is profoundly stupid.

    I'm not against these algorithms mind you. I think they have a lot of useful potential. It's just that the first things people have dived for to use it seem to me to be the absolute most foolhardy ways to apply it.

    • I completely agree. It makes sense that AI is not good at determining truth vs fiction. I think it's more important for us as users to just search for information on our own, then determine the "end answer" with our own judgement after reviewing different sources and experiences (taking each individual answer with a grain of salt)

      That's why, I personally think AI search engine won't be the best all-rounder for all types of information that's not niche, deep searching which is IMO better found on forum-like platforms where people (enthusiasts) share sources, their experiences, what worked, what didn't work, and why. For AI, maybe just simple bland information, like an excel formula, or how to hot wire a car, is better

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