cover of episode Younger People Aren’t Googling As Much. That’s Bad for Google.

Younger People Aren’t Googling As Much. That’s Bad for Google.

2024/12/11
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WSJ Tech News Briefing

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Christopher Mims
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Isabel Busquets
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Isabel Busquets: 银行正在积极吸引科技人才,提供与科技公司相当甚至更好的工作条件和发展机会,包括科研机会、稳定性以及具有竞争力的薪资。同时,科技公司发展放缓以及AI技术在各行各业的应用,也使得科技人才更愿意考虑其他行业的机会,例如金融、零售、医疗和保险等行业,这些行业拥有大量真实数据和实际问题,为数据科学和工程人才提供更多发展空间。 Christopher Mims: 年轻人更倾向于使用AI聊天机器人和TikTok等平台搜索信息,而非谷歌,这威胁着谷歌的核心搜索业务和广告收入。AI生成内容的爆炸式增长也对谷歌搜索构成巨大威胁,因为难以区分AI生成内容和人工生成内容。人们转向AI聊天机器人进行搜索,以及AI生成内容污染谷歌搜索索引,这会破坏互联网生态系统,并降低谷歌搜索结果的实用性。同时,AI搜索引擎中广告的植入方式尚不明确,这给谷歌的广告收入带来了挑战。谷歌正在努力应对这些挑战,例如开发更先进的搜索生成体验,以满足用户对直接获得答案的需求。

Deep Dive

Key Insights

Why are younger people turning to platforms other than Google for information?

Younger people are increasingly using AI chatbots and platforms like TikTok for information instead of Google. They prefer getting direct answers rather than sifting through search results, and TikTok has become a popular starting point for searches, with one in three users beginning their search within 30 seconds of opening the app.

What is the broader impact of people moving away from Google search?

The shift away from Google search threatens the entire ecosystem of the internet. As more people use AI chatbots and platforms like TikTok, less ad revenue flows to content creators indexed by Google, and the utility of Google's search results diminishes. This could harm Google's primary profit engine, which funds its other ventures like Waymo.

How is AI-generated content affecting Google's search business?

The explosion of AI-generated content is a significant threat to Google search. While Google claims it doesn't care if content is AI-generated as long as users have the best experience, distinguishing between AI and human-created content is becoming increasingly difficult. This could dilute the quality of search results and reduce ad revenue.

Why might working in a bank's technology department be attractive to tech talent?

Banks are aggressively hiring tech talent by emphasizing the value of technology and AI within their organizations. They offer opportunities for research, patent filing, and presenting at conferences, similar to tech companies. Additionally, the financial sector is seen as stable, with competitive salaries and access to real-world financial data, making it an appealing alternative to tech companies.

What challenges does Google face in maintaining its dominance in search and advertising?

Google faces challenges from younger users shifting to AI chatbots and platforms like TikTok, as well as from the rise of AI-generated content. These trends reduce the utility of Google's search results and threaten its ad revenue model, as chatbots and other platforms struggle to seamlessly integrate ads without disrupting user experience.

Chapters
Contrary to popular belief, big banks are becoming increasingly attractive to tech professionals. They're actively recruiting top talent by investing in technology, AI research, and offering stable salaries and benefits. Other sectors like retail, healthcare, and insurance are also competing for tech talent.
  • Banks are aggressively hiring tech talent.
  • Tech jobs at banks offer research opportunities and stable salaries.
  • Other sectors like retail, healthcare, and insurance are also attracting tech professionals.

Shownotes Transcript

It’s not just demographics weighing on the tech and search giant—Google’s core search and advertising business is under siege). WSJ tech columnist Christopher Mims joins host Belle Lin to talk about the various pressures that threaten Google’s dominance. Plus, why the coolest job in tech) might actually be in a bank.

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