WEEKLY WHEATIES #2447
AI Search, Crypto, Amazon, Robotics, Winter Travel
In this newsletter:
📝 Post: Navigating AI in Search: Finding the Middle Ground
🗞️ In Case You Missed It: Crypto Updates
🗞️ In Case You Missed It: Amazon Haul
🗞️ In Case You Missed It: Robotics
😎 Pick of the Week: Winter Travel Picks
📦 Featured Product: Charging Station
📝 Navigating AI in Search: Finding the Middle Ground
In Weekly Wheaties #2440, I shared some tips on how to speak the “Google” language. However, if you’ve used online searches enough in the past few months, you’ve probably seen an uptick in AI plaguing the top of your search results. On Google, it comes in the form of an AI Overview, and on Bing, if you’re not careful, Copilot will pop up wanting to continue a conversation. Both can be equally frustrating, but both also have their perks. The importance here is understanding when to use AI - or probably more specifically, when you can trust it.
Prior to this year, AI was typically limited in how far back in recent history it could refer back to. Now, most models are either up to date or work in tandem with the search engine to provide real-time results when needed. In some cases, many of the models may have even scraped more of the web to provide even more recent training. However, depending on the way the question is asked, the results may be less accurate.
In general, though, the most recent information won’t affect AI much. This is mainly because they are generative in nature. Meaning they are designed to create something new, and if they don’t know the answer or have access to current information, it will make things up. Another reason you should be careful when using any type of AI model and especially if copying and pasting any output from a chatbot. The power of an AI comes in its ability to research and combine many results very quickly to create a new version of this information.
As the search engines integrate more AI responses into their results, this will also have an unseen effect on their results. Typical online searches function around Search Engine Optimization (SEO), allowing developers to modify their websites for positive search findability. Since AI may scrape multiple websites to provide information and results, the most popular - or best-optimized - site may not always be referenced. This could potentially cause further issues with accuracy, trustability, and useful information provided.
Let’s use two popular websites as examples of the differences in how AI can function - Reddit and Wikipedia. Reddit, by and large, is a social media platform that allows essentially anyone to create an account and make a post or comment. Wikipedia, on the other hand, allows updates to their pages, but they are typically vetted by others and may require resources or references for factual information.
Search engines can crawl both of these sites to pull information from. If the search does not reference where the information is sourced, there is a chance it could be providing false or even made-up information based on the context. Typically, a search engine can be trusted to provide easily found factual information (weather, sports scores, times, etc), but if an AI becomes involved, the most recent information is not always provided. It’s highly doubtful it would make up this specific information, but it may not be the most accurate. Again, this shows the importance of providing references when applicable or completing due diligence on the websites in question.
Unfortunately, we are at the whim of these large companies in how search or chat will work moving forward. As search engines involve AI more and more in their results, we must be careful in how we ask our questions or interact with the chatbot in question. However, remember that these search engines (regardless of whether they are using AI) still have an algorithm on the backend influencing search results that are also changed and updated frequently.
Recently, a less popular search engine, DuckDuckGo, released their own chatbot - DuckDuckGo AI Chat. OpenAI has also released ChatGPT for your desktop. Microsoft already embeds Copilot into Windows, and Google’s Chrome Browser has Gemini built in. The gray area between search and chat is becoming larger and larger.
Ultimately, deciding whether to use a search engine or an AI chat depends on the type of information you’re looking for, and how much of an answer you’d like. Again, things requiring as-a-matter-of-fact information work best in search. Things that may have multiple correct answers (or no obvious answers) AI chats have an edge.
For example, opening a search engine and typing “dad jokes about computers” will yield unlimited links to sites that provide jokes. Some links may only list 1, and some 100. Obviously, some will be better quality than others, but that’s dependent on the algorithm at the time. Typing “dad jokes about computers” to an AI chat will yield 5-15 jokes. You can then prompt it for more if you’d like, but there’s no searching to be done.
Asking a search engine “What's the average temperature in New York City for New Year's?” will provide multiple links from places like the Weather Service, personal blogs from local travel guides, and even a site specific to the Balldrop in Times Square. However, an AI response culminates all of these links to provide a one-paragraph reply with an average temperature to expect based on historical data. The AI response, however, cannot provide a real-time temperature for New York City. A search would be best for this information.
All that said, I don’t see search engines as we know them today disappearing anytime soon. As we can see, each has its pros and cons. But what will continue to happen more and more moving forward is the blending of the two. Let this also stand as a reminder to utilize both options! If you don’t like the results from AI, try the same question in search. And if you’re tired of clicking link after link in your search results, try asking AI. Just remember - AI’s flourish on their prompting, and search engines have a language of their own.
🗞️ ICYMI: Crypto Updates
Within the last week or so, we’ve seen a rise in many cryptocurrencies following other areas of the market. The ‘gold standard’ in crypto - Bitcoin - set a new all-time record high above $82,000. With a new presidency, there may be a change in crypto regulation, so time will tell. I do not suggest using crypto as an investment, only a hobby. If you decide you want to put money towards Bitcoin, there are multiple Bitcoin ETFs on the stock exchange, along with many crypto exchanges to purchase. Mining Bitcoin is absolutely not feasible today. One of those exchanges, Coinbase, launched a ‘Coin50’ index as the crypto equivalent to the S&P 500 and a balance to Bitcoin.
🗞️ ICYMI: Amazon Haul
Have you ever purchased something from Temu or Shein? No judgment here, just asking. Amazon has noticed the many people who have, even if you haven’t. To keep up, they have created a new ’Amazon Haul’ discount storefront. This is currently only available on the mobile app through a new tab. All items listed here are below $20 at “crazy low prices,” with free shipping on orders over $25 and no returns on items less than $3. Happy shopping!
🗞️ ICYMI: Robotics
A Chinese robotic company, DEEP Robotics, released a video of their new Lynx All-Terrian Robot crossing rough terrain at high speeds. It’s as cool as it is dystopian. This looks to put another competitor on par with the Boston Dynamic’s Atlas and Spot autonomous robots. The Tesla Bot looks like it may be making headway, too, but if that arm of Tesla follows suit with the car side, it may be a while before we see too much from them, much less in production.
😎 POTW: Winter Travel Picks
With the holiday season approaching quickly, maybe you’re considering somewhere to go for a personal, family, or friend’s vacation. There are many places to visit for the first time or in a new light if you’ve been before. Check out some of the articles below, which share specific places to visit for the winter.
📦 Featured Product
If you have multiple devices that not only need to charge but also need their place in the home, consider getting a Charging Station for Multiple Devices. It can be placed on a counter, in a drawer, or on a desk. It has 5 slots for your tablets, Kindles, or phones. There’s even a spot for an Apple Watch, it comes with a few cables, and it’s available in 4 different colors.
