For the past two decades, Google has undeniably established its dominance in the realm of search engines. Its unrivaled market share is evident, holding an impressive 93% of the global search-engine market, as reported by Statcounter. In stark contrast, Bing, Google’s closest competitor, captures a significantly smaller market share. However, this might be about to change with Microsoft unveiling an AI-powered version of its Bing search engine.
The AI battle between Microsoft and Google is truly on, and if Microsoft CEO’s words are anything to go by, the OpenAI project could be a massive hit. But just how close is the new and improved Bing search to knocking Google from its perch? We aim to make an informed guess by highlighting each platform’s strengths and AI search features.
Natural Language Processing
One of the key areas where AI has revolutionized search engines is natural language processing. Google’s AI-powered search assistant, Google Assistant, and Bing’s counterpart, Cortana, excel in understanding and responding to natural language features.
Google combines its vast knowledge base with AI-driven search features to accurately interpret complex queries. Whether understanding context, deciphering intent, or providing relevant information, Google’s NLP capabilities set a high bar for conventional search.
On the other hand, Bing has made notable strides in NLP with its AI algorithms. While not widely known as Google Assistant, Microsoft Cortana offers exceptional natural language understanding. These capabilities allow users to engage in meaningful conversations. Furthermore, Bing’s integration with Microsoft’s suite of products further enhances its capabilities, particularly for business and productivity-related queries.
Tailoring Search Results to Individual Preferences
Personalized search results have become an integral part of the search experience. For this, Google and Bing both employ AI-powered algorithms to analyze user behavior, preferences, and historical data to deliver results relevant to the user’s preferences.
Google’s AI-powered personalization engine is based on the RankBrain algorithm and has the ability to learn and adapt to individual search patterns. By considering elements such as location, search history, and social media interactions, Google provides users with highly relevant results. This level of personalization makes Google the prevalent search engine.
While Bing might be less dominant, it utilizes unique artificial intelligence algorithms to deliver personalized search experiences. Bing’s integration with services from Outlook to Office and LinkedIn enables it to provide contextually relevant results. As such, this integration and the results appeal to users who rely heavily on Microsoft products for personal and professional requirements.
Visual Search
Visual search has gained prominence as AI algorithms become more adept at understanding and analyzing images. In line with this, Google and Bing have introduced visual search features, which allow users to search using images rather than keywords.
The most popular of these features is Google Lens, Google’s visual search tool. This tool leverages AI and computer vision to identify objects, landmarks, and texts within images. From identifying objects to finding similar products, Google Lens offers a seamless visual search experience.
Bing is no slouch either in the visual search sphere. Bing’s integration with Microsoft’s Edge browser enhances the accessibility of its visual search capabilities. Users can capture or upload images through the browser to search for similar products, discover related content, or get detailed information.
Which Is Best?
As the battle for search engine supremacy continues, both Google and Bing have embraced AI to enhance their search features. And while Google aims to serve every person and industry, Bing has taken a more conservative approach with its integrations, resulting in more tailored search suggestions.
Bing has definitely improved over the last year and is more competitive. However, with Google’s long-standing monopoly on the industry and vast knowledge base, it’s unlikely they would be knocked off the perch anytime soon. Ideally, users should strive for optimization in both areas to capture the majority of overall searches and enhance overall visibility.
