Jan 3, 2025

Next to the existing players we see big many challengers. OpenAI went from being a search organization to becoming a full on consumer focues search comapny. You.com integrates a chat-based AI assistant (YouChat) to deliver direct answers alongside traditional results. Richard, the founder of You, who is one of the most inspring entrepreneurs here in the valley talked in my course. Here a 30s summary of his talk. You.com aims to redefine traditional search by incorporating tools and features that go beyond simple information retrieval, focusing instead on enhancing user productivity and collaboration. And then surely we have Perplexity that focused on citation-based answers. Users receive concise overviews with source links, which boosts credibility and user trust. Many Startups Coming to AI based Search Additionally there are many startups. Over the last 12 months I stoped counting the number of founders who told me that they are going to “kill Google.” Here are two note-worthy ones: Andi, Emphasizes a conversational, visually engaging style. Summaries often include meme-like visuals. Kagi offers a subscription-based, ad-free option with minimal tracking. What do They Need to Win the AI Search War? Like in the 1990s, it all boils down to users. If a search tool can grab enough attention, keep people engaged, and build loyalty, it has a shot at success. This is why industry leaders like Sam Altman discuss topics like AGI —it’s a way to keep OpenAI at the forefront of innovation and public interest. Moreover, companies need to grasp the concept of the 'long tail' in search. Human queries are inherently complex, which is why keyword-based search initially struggled to deliver effective results. Understanding and interpreting context, while providing the right level of information without overwhelming the user with excessive details, is a challenging task. Google, however, has a significant advantage with its years of experience and vast amounts of data. So, don't count Google out just yet. The comeback it made with its generative search experience was impressive, showcasing its ability to adapt and innovate. I'm confident that there’s much more to come from Google in this space. 2025 - the Year of Search If you’re placing bets on a single technology to dominate the conversation in 2025, bet on search. By merging LLMs, retrieval-augmented data, and intuitive user interfaces, search is poised to be the game-changing AI solution for both individual users and global enterprises. It will not be the only application though. More predictions about AI in 2025 to come. Follow me here or on LinkedIn to learn more. Follow me on  Twitter  or  LinkedIn . Check out my  website  or some of my other work  here .