Brave Search Adopts Artificial Intelligence to Provide Accurate Query Answers
Brave, a privacy-focused search engine, has announced the introduction of its new "Answer with AI" feature, which returns synthesized answers to users’ queries.
The New Feature is Available Globally
The "Answer with AI" feature is now live and accessible to users worldwide. This innovative approach utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) to provide neatly formatted answers to a wide range of questions, from simple ones like "People who walked on the moon" to more complex queries such as "List of all actors who played Batman" or "How to descale Nespresso pixie."
AI-Powered Summarization and Reviews
The feature can also summarize reviews and key points about a restaurant, for instance. Brave has stated that it will automatically use AI to present summarized information for informational queries, such as those listed above.
History of Brave’s AI-Powered Search Engine
Brave launched an AI-powered summarization feature in March 2023, which marked the beginning of its journey towards developing a more comprehensive and user-friendly search experience. The company claims that its new "Answer with AI" feature is a significant upgrade to this previous development.
How It Works
According to Brave’s head of search, Josep Pujol, users can simply enter their query as they would with any regular search engine. However, the query will then be internally converted into an LLM (Large Language Model) prompt using data from search results as context for the prompt.
Use of Large Language Models
Brave utilizes a combination of Mixtral 8x7B and Mistral 7B as primary models alongside custom transformer models for semantic matching and answering. This unique approach enables the company to provide accurate and comprehensive answers to users’ queries.
Potential Impact on Web Publishers
Several reports have highlighted the potential risks associated with AI-powered search engines, including a possible decline in web traffic for content providers. Brave acknowledges this challenge and has stated that it will be monitoring and quantifying the impact of AI-generated content on site visits.
Addressing Disruptions to Web Content Providers
The company has expressed its commitment to addressing any disruptions caused by the drop in traffic resulting from AI-generated content. Brave recognizes that this issue is not unique to its own platform but rather a challenge faced by most AI-powered answer engines and chatbots.
Competition from Other Search Engines
Other prominent search engines, such as Google and Bing, have also explored AI-powered answers through various experiments. Additionally, startups like Perplexity and You.com are vying to become the go-to answer engine for users.
Conclusion
Brave’s introduction of its "Answer with AI" feature marks a significant step towards developing more advanced and user-friendly search engines. However, it also raises important questions about the potential impact on web content providers and the need for careful monitoring and adaptation to mitigate any negative effects.
References
- Brave Search: www.brave.com/search
- Perplexity: www.perplexity.ai
- You.com: www.you.com