Thoughts on the state of Google
Om Malik recently wrote about the mediocrity of modern Google.
Google used to be cool. I remember reading “The Google Story” as a young geek and feeling inspired. But over time, my love hasn’t just waned – it’s expired completely.
The final blow? When they changed their slogan from “don’t be evil”.
Shutting down Google Reader was another pivotal moment. After that, I couldn’t trust anything beyond their major products. Why invest time in something that might vanish after a few years?
Many complain that Google search results aren’t what they once were. I’ve noticed a decline, though perhaps not as dramatic as some suggest. I want to give them some slack – fighting SEO tricks must be challenging. But with billions of pounds at their disposal, this problem should be solvable.
Integrating AI into search results presents a dilemma. Users seem resistant, yet Google can’t ignore AI’s significance. Neglecting it might leave them behind, but when people visit Google, they typically want links, not AI summaries.
Solution? Separation.
On the homepage, replace “I’m Feeling Lucky” with an AI search button:
Or simply separate search results from AI answers.
Current mobile layout:
Suggested mobile layout with AI slightly hidden:
On desktop, utilise the sidebar:
Speaking of AI, Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro has been released with impressive coding capabilities and free (limited) access. This is the right direction, as Gemini lacks the enthusiasm that surrounds ChatGPT and Claude.
While it’s somewhat true that AI companies have little moat – users quickly move to new LLM offerings if they’re superior – Google seems different. Anecdotally, the average user isn’t rushing to try Gemini.
If I were Google, I’d leverage my financial might. Their models have caught up technically with OpenAI and Claude (for now, see me again in a month), but ChatGPT remains the default choice for average users. Google needs to become the default.
So make Gemini truly, completely free. No paid plans whatsoever (for now). Maximise adoption by removing all barriers. And introduce Gemini to Search results subtly, not by shoving it in peoples faces.
In the AI arms race, having superior models means nothing if people aren’t using them.