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Goonch

(4,139 posts)
6. ;-{)
Sat Nov 22, 2025, 03:59 PM
Nov 22

Differences between Google Search and Google AI Search:

Google Search provides a list of links to web pages, while Google AI Search (like
AI Mode or AI Overviews) generates direct, synthesized answers to queries, often with summaries, comparisons, and interactive tools. Google Search relies on keyword matching, whereas AI Search uses large language models to understand intent and context, leading to a more conversational experience that can be personalized and may include zero-click answers.






Detailed differences between ChatGPT and Google AI Search:

ChatGPT (OpenAI)
and AI on Google Search (powered by the Gemini family of models, Search's AI Overviews) have key differences. These include their primary purpose, real-time data access, and integration with external ecosystems, though both are powerful AI models.
Core Purpose and Interaction

ChatGPT: This AI is primarily designed for conversational assistance. It generates human-like text responses. It excels at creative tasks and complex discussions. It follows detailed instructions to produce in-depth, paragraph-style answers.
AI on Google Search: The models (like Gemini) are integrated into a wider range of services. The core function is leveraging Google's robust search infrastructure. AI Overviews in Google Search distill information. They use a vast index of real-time web pages to provide summaries and relevant source links for a user's query.

Data and Information Access

ChatGPT: Traditionally, this AI relies on a pre-trained dataset. Its knowledge is limited to a certain cutoff date. Paid versions can browse the web. It processes large amounts of diverse internet text for training.
AI on Google Search: This AI has an advantage due to its real-time web crawling and indexing capabilities. It uses a custom Gemini model with Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG). This scans the current web for the most reliable sources. This ensures the information is generally up-to-date.

Ecosystem Integration

ChatGPT: This AI offers a rich user-driven plugin and API ecosystem. Developers can integrate its capabilities into various third-party services and platforms.
AI on Google Search: This AI is deeply integrated into the Google ecosystem. It has built-in extensions that draw data from Google products. These include Gmail, Docs, Drive, Maps, and YouTube. This streamlines workflows for users of those services.

Summary Table of Differences
Feature
ChatGPT (OpenAI) AI on Google Search (Gemini, AI Overviews)
Primary Goal Conversational AI, detailed content generation Search enhancement, information retrieval, task assistance
Data Source Primarily pre-trained data (with web browsing available in paid tiers) Real-time web crawling, Google Knowledge Graph
Response Style Detailed, paragraph-style responses, often narrative Concise summaries with numerous linked sources
Ecosystem Third-party plugins and broad API access Deep integration with Google apps (Docs, Gmail, Maps, etc.)
Multimodal Handles text, images, and audio natively Understands and combines text, code, images, audio, and video

Recommendations

1 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Only for those who take it at face value. I immediately expect something to be wrong-- at least partially and hlthe2b Nov 22 #1
Yes that's the totally sensible approach ... to distrust the information until it has been corroborated FakeNoose Nov 22 #25
Also understand how low even that bar was. Remember the disdain for "Google University" RockRaven Nov 22 #2
I've seen so many people posting "I ran this by Chat GPT and this is what it came up with" or chia Nov 22 #3
That is so cringe-worthy to me. I can't believe how uncritically people have accepted this Iris Nov 22 #10
If you're going to use AI... ultralite001 Nov 22 #4
It's Cliff Notes in a new incarnation. Speedy and shallow. IMO. nt allegorical oracle Nov 22 #5
I'll bet Cliff Notes at least had 'some' human review. And the notes were revised over the years. erronis Nov 22 #11
Sure ... the Cliff Notes were written by live humans FakeNoose Nov 22 #26
;-{) Goonch Nov 22 #6
Whatever chatbot(s?) generated that AI-promoting AI slop answer for you makes no reference at all highplainsdem Nov 22 #9
Please don't tell other people what to post. Jack Valentino Sunday #40
This is a message board for people to communicate, not a display for AI slop. If it's treated as acceptable highplainsdem Sunday #41
Yeah, we all have our crosses to bear.... Jack Valentino Sunday #42
It was a request saying please, not an order. As for your availing yourself of the technology - it's unlikely highplainsdem Sunday #43
I put my use of any technology whatsoever which will help me to oppose TRUMP Jack Valentino Monday #44
Kick SheltieLover Nov 22 #7
Thanks! highplainsdem Nov 22 #21
Yw. Ty for being our resident expert on ai slop! SheltieLover Nov 22 #22
Doing a google search is hardly the best way to learn something to begin with... Wounded Bear Nov 22 #8
I have been using Google's 'NotebookLM', I think with good results. rog Nov 22 #12
Why aren't you writing those reports yourself, if they're supposedly from you? And why do you want highplainsdem Nov 22 #20
I'm not sure I'm communicating effectively. rog Nov 22 #27
I emphasized writing for yourself because writing is critical to thinking and shouldn't be turned over highplainsdem Nov 22 #33
OK. It's clear that your reading comprehension is limited, since we - apparently - agree ... rog Nov 22 #34
You ignored my pointing out that genAI tools are fundamentally unethical because they're trained illegally highplainsdem Nov 22 #35
You're just a wealth of information, aren't you? rog Sunday #36
If you had spent a bit more time simply googling, you'd have learned quickly for yourself that natural highplainsdem Sunday #37
(sigh) re: your assumptions about my diet ... vegan since about 1974 ... rog Sunday #38
Sigh. I haven't "singled you out" - I've posted hundreds of threads here on the pitfalls of using genAI, highplainsdem Sunday #39
I like going down the research holes of Wikipedia, pubmed, phys.org, Medscape, etc. erronis Nov 22 #13
Butlerian Jihad... BurnDoubt Nov 22 #14
This!!! paleotn Nov 22 #19
The ship has sailed. Professors are using it now Sympthsical Nov 22 #15
And there are more and more studies showing how harmful AI is, how much it dumbs users down. highplainsdem Nov 22 #23
We've said the same about social media Sympthsical Nov 22 #24
It's the end of humanity. We're doomed. QueerDuck Nov 22 #16
Dumb comparisons, and you know it. Or should. highplainsdem Nov 22 #18
so much wrong with AI barbtries Nov 22 #17
You can also create your own 'custom' search engine to do that ... rog Nov 22 #30
Seen on one of my fitness sites last spring: CrispyQ Nov 22 #28
Butlerian Jihad... BurnDoubt Nov 22 #29
OOPS!!! BurnDoubt Nov 22 #31
Seems Obvious OC375 Nov 22 #32
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