At my digital marketing agency, the familiar advice of “Google it” has often been the go-to solution for finding answers. For many of us, the quest for the right information online was a journey filled with its share of frustrations—often leading to those first grey hairs. We’ve grown accustomed to quick searches for answers, directions, new purchases, and even complaints about coffee being “too hot.” Yet, this landscape is changing every day.
Google has long been the leader in search engines, but with the rise of AI, new contenders are emerging, aiming to challenge Google’s dominance. One notable example is Perplexity AI, an “AI-First” search engine that leverages artificial intelligence to enhance search results. The core idea behind AI is to process and understand information in a way that mimics human intelligence, promising more precise and relevant results.
Consider a recent scenario: I needed to create a simple pop-up in Zoho to prevent users from leaving a website. Specifically, I wanted to disable the double opt-in option. After hours of frustration and a growing number of grey hairs, I resorted to searching on Google with the query: “Disabling double opt-in on Zoho Campaigns.” The top results were largely irrelevant—sales pitches from other agencies, unrelated support articles, and a lot of unnecessary fluff. Finally, I found the answer.
Here’s where AI-First search engines shine. They have the potential to filter out the irrelevant content and provide the exact information you need right away. This not only saves time but also reduces the frustration of sifting through countless irrelevant results.
As we enter this new era of searching powered by AI, the impact on our digital strategies is significant. The ability to find precise information quickly will not only make our lives easier but also force us to rethink how we approach content and digital marketing for our clients.
In the coming weeks, we’ll explore the nuances of AI-First search engines and what they mean for businesses accustomed to the traditional search methods. It’s an exciting time, and I’m keen to dive into how these advancements will reshape our approach and improve efficiency in our digital strategies. Stay tuned!
Written by Christo Brand – Chief Geek at We Do Digital