What search engine do you use?

[ghost of miles]

Asking because I'm heartily sick of what Google's done (replacing their previously excellent search function with an AI summary. You can do a search and type -AI at the end, but even doing that doesn't seem to yield the same number of relevant results as in the past).  DuckDuckGo? Other? 

[Dub Modal]

DuckDuckGo is MSN I believe. Not sure where to go at this point

[Brad]

50 minutes ago, ghost of miles said:

Asking because I'm heartily sick of what Google's done (replacing their previously excellent search function with an AI summary. You can do a search and type -AI at the end, but even doing that doesn't seem to yield the same number of relevant results as in the past).  DuckDuckGo? Other? 

Know what you mean. I tend to disregard the AI results. 

[Stompin at the Savoy]

 On google, after searching, click the More dropdown menu right under the search bar and select Web.

AI is not popular now because of data centers and high costs of electricity and memory chips not to mention the lack of safeguards.  However, I do find google's AI summaries helpful.  They are often able to answer my questions more directly than the Web option, and can integrate info from numerous sites in a single report.

Edited June 25 by Stompin at the Savoy

[Rabshakeh]

I find they're getting better. Increasingly the AI element is really just a chatbot fronting more old fashioned search technology.

[mikeweil]

I use Startpage since it exists.

[Ken Dryden]

AI sure has been error-filled since it was added to search engines. It is about as reliable as wikipedia.

[Dave Garrett]

Google has gotten so enshittified that I have been searching (pun fully intended) for a decent replacement for some time. I use DuckDuckGo a lot of the time, but we're pretty far removed from the days when there seemed to be multiple high-quality search engines to choose from. 

Much as it pains me to think of yet another subscription, I have been seriously considering trying out Kagi, which is a paid search engine that touts its absence of ads, tracking, and SEO-gamed search results. I'm skeptical as to how well they can deliver the high-quality search results they promise, but I've seen comments from more than a few users that claim they'll never go back after having used it for a while. 

[mr jazz]

Startpage

[Ken Dryden]

I also learned that AI uses Wikipedia as one of its many resources. That explains some of the frequent errors that I find.

The first transcription program that I tried, which was free for the first three 30 minute sessions came up with this blooper. A well recorded in person interview that I did with Marian McPartland transcribed a remark that playing with Paul Desmond might “upset the avocado.” Of course, she clearly said apple cart. I never again used that program.

[Stompin at the Savoy]

5 hours ago, Ken Dryden said:

I also learned that AI uses Wikipedia as one of its many resources. That explains some of the frequent errors that I find.

The first transcription program that I tried, which was free for the first three 30 minute sessions came up with this blooper. A well recorded in person interview that I did with Marian McPartland transcribed a remark that playing with Paul Desmond might “upset the avocado.” Of course, she clearly said apple cart. I never again used that program.

Voice transcription - which has been around for quite a few years - is not the same as AI.  There are reasons to dislike AI but this is not one of them.

[Ken Dryden]

22 hours ago, Stompin at the Savoy said:

Voice transcription - which has been around for quite a few years - is not the same as AI.  There are reasons to dislike AI but this is not one of them.

Some AI programs are better at transcribing text from interviews than others. Even the best need to be verified against the audio, as words will be misspelled or omitted.

[Stompin at the Savoy]

2 hours ago, Ken Dryden said:

Some AI programs are better at transcribing text from interviews than others. Even the best need to be verified against the audio, as words will be misspelled or omitted.

The technology being used is not even remotely new and has very little to do with AI.  Complain about AI all you want but voice recognition predates it by decades.

Edited July 5 by Stompin at the Savoy

[Ken Dryden]

22 hours ago, Stompin at the Savoy said:

The technology being used is not even remotely new and has very little to do with AI.  Complain about AI all you want but voice recognition predates it by decades.

Whatever. I knew that there were earlier transcription programs like the one Denny Zeitlin discussed in an Interview that I did with him probably around 2010. That one took some time to learn the individual's vocal patterns, so it didn't easily transfer its ability to working with more than one voice.

In any case, the first program I tried was overpriced and not very good at transcribing compared to TurboScribe, the one that I currently use. You can get up to three free transcriptions per day, more than enough for my needs.

[ghost of miles]

NY Times: Google is building an A.I. fence around the Internet it once championed

[felser]

I use Duck Duck Go on Firefox.  Avoid Google for privacy concerns.