Microsoft has announced plans to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) into its search engine, Bing, as part of a wider push into AI and machine learning technologies. The move is seen as an attempt to compete with Google, which currently dominates the search engine market.
According to Microsoft, AI will be used to improve the accuracy and relevance of search results, as well as to make the search process more efficient and personalized. The company plans to use machine learning algorithms to better understand the intent behind search queries and to tailor results to the user’s individual preferences and behavior.
In a blog post, Jordi Ribas, Corporate Vice President of Bing and AI Products at Microsoft, said: “Our mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Search plays an important role in this by connecting people with the information they need to be more productive and informed. To do this, we need to understand not only the words on the page, but also the intent behind the search.”
Microsoft’s push into AI is part of a broader strategy to leverage the technology across its product portfolio. The company has already integrated AI into its Office suite of productivity applications and has announced plans to use the technology to improve the user experience on its Windows operating system.
Meanwhile, Google has been reassuring investors about the future of its search business following a recent antitrust lawsuit filed by the US Department of Justice. The lawsuit alleges that Google has used its dominant position in the search engine market to stifle competition and maintain its monopoly.
In a blog post, Google’s Senior Vice President of Global Affairs, Kent Walker, said: “We believe that our search engine is a great product for users and a great business for advertisers. We are committed to continuing to improve it, and we welcome the scrutiny that comes with success.”
The antitrust lawsuit is not the only challenge facing Google’s search business. The company has also come under fire from privacy advocates and regulators for its data collection practices and use of user data to personalize search results and target advertising.
Despite these challenges, Google remains the dominant player in the search engine market, with a market share of around 92% globally, according to StatCounter. Microsoft’s Bing, by contrast, has a market share of just 2.7%.
However, Microsoft’s focus on AI and machine learning could help it to carve out a niche in the search market and compete more effectively with Google. The company has already made significant investments in AI research and development, and its AI-powered language model, GPT-3, has generated considerable interest in the tech industry for its ability to generate human-like language.
In conclusion, the incorporation of AI into search engines is a significant development in the tech industry, and Microsoft’s push into the field is a notable challenge to Google’s dominance. While Google remains the clear leader in the search engine market, Microsoft’s focus on AI and machine learning could help it to close the gap and provide users with more personalized and relevant search results.
