AI in Google searches …

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

… is not to my taste !!

 

Fortunately someone on Reddit has found a solution for Safari users:

https://www.reddit.com/r/techsupport/comments/1cfyp8h/any_way_to_turn_off_google_ai_on_safariiphone/

Read to the end of the thread, then go to the App store.

MichaelG.

.

Edit: __ This explains what’s going-on

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/05/google-searchs-udm14-trick-lets-you-kill-ai-search-for-good/

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Sorry folks … I think I am going to need some help with this one

This appears to be the total extent of the in-App instructions !

… all a little cryptic for me.

.

MichaelG.

 

[Michael Gilligan]

On Michael Gilligan Said:

Sorry folks … I think I am going to need some help with this one

This appears to be the total extent of the in-App instructions !

… all a little cryptic for me.

.

MichaelG.

 

And me!

I think “https://archive.org/search?query=” is just an example.  Maybe substitute the google equivalent.

“https://www.google.com/search?q=”

Then, in the ‘SUFFIX OF URL” field, enter “&udm=14”

I guess the app intercepts the normal Google URL, maybe strips off the tracking, and adds the ‘use web only’ parameter.  Hopefully automatically.

Years ago I decided Google was far too intrusive and switched to DuckDuckGo.  This search engine is for anyone with security or privacy concerns: it doesn’t track.  Early DuckDuckGo was mildly inferior to Google, but results were almost identical last time I bothered to compare them.

DuckDuckGo has an AI Search add-on called DuckAssist, voluntary at the moment, though worryingly this is ‘part of a larger plan to integrate AI across the product lineup.’   Hmmm.

I’m not against AI in principle, but it suffers from the classic “Garbage In Garbage Out” Data Processing issue.  The internet has a serious information quality problem and I’m not sure how an AI scanning the web can sort good from bad.   Seems to be hurting Google at the moment, because their AI is picking up too much Garbage.  No doubt they’ll fix it, but Google’s been getting a bad press!

Dave

 

[Graham MeekParticipant @grahammeek88282]

For my part I simply select Web when Google decides to give me its inspired AI answers. Their answers are never what I am looking for anyway.

Regards

Gray,

[SillyOldDuffer]

On SillyOldDuffer Said:

And me!

I think “https://archive.org/search?query=” is just an example.  Maybe substitute the google equivalent.

“https://www.google.com/search?q=”

Then, in the ‘SUFFIX OF URL” field, enter “&udm=14”

I guess the app intercepts the normal Google URL, maybe strips off the tracking, and adds the ‘use web only’ parameter.  Hopefully automatically.

[…]

Thanks, Dave … I will have a play

Trouble is, I am not familiar with the ‘parameters’ or their syntax !

< blush >

MichaelG.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

I am obviously too thick to be capable of driving the App

https://www.reddit.com/r/ios/comments/1cztie3/safari_custom_search_engine/

MichaelG.

[Author]

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