Web Search Alternatives Compete with Gusto
April 22, 2022
Search and information blog DKB shares a roundup of interesting search systems in, “The Next Google.” Are we confident any of these will be the next Google? Nope. But there are several our readers might find useful. While relatively popular Google alternatives like DuckDuckGo and Bing are based on the Google model, the apps on this list take their own paths. The write-up tells us:
“The next Google can’t just be an input box that spits out links. We need new thinking to create something much better than what came before. In the last few years, different groups of people came to the same conclusion, and started working on the next generation of search engines. For this new generation, privacy is necessary, and invasive ads are not an option. But that’s where the commonalities end. Beyond that, they’ve all taken the idea of a search engine in very different directions. … This new wave of search engines is only just getting started. Many of them have only recently launched. Even if they aren’t perfect yet, the paths they’re exploring can lead to promising new innovation in the stagnant search space.”
First is Kagi, which emphasizes customization. Users decide how they want information presented and can refine the sources the search taps into. Then there is Neeva, which takes searches beyond the web and into one’s personal resources, like email and a wide array of online file storage systems. You.com tries to match each query with the source most relevant to the type of question, while Andi takes a little time to pinpoint the best answer and deliver it with the feel of a real conversation. Finally, Brave Search boasts its own independent index that does not rely on Google or Bing for results, an unusual achievement indeed. See the write-up for more information on each of these systems. No, Google is not going to be replaced across the Web any time soon. But some readers may find an option here that could replace it in their own browsers, at least some of the time.
Cynthia Murrell, April 22, 2022
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