The essence of AI has taken on a new dimension, significantly influenced by advancements in technology and the evolving needs of usersOne amusing exchange shared on social media quoted a curious child asking if parrots walked in a bouncy manner, highlighting the engaging nature of AI interactionsHowever, the implications reach far beyond light-hearted dialogueAs applications like Doubao and Kimi emerge, we've witnessed a rapid evolution in AI's role within search functionalitiesThese tools are not just regarded as mere chatbots but as integral components of the user experience, significantly enhancing the way people access information.

With a growing population of users ranging from young children to the elderly engaging with these AI systems through voice, 2024 is shaping up to be an essential year for AI searchCompanies across the globe, including giants such as Baidu, Tencent, and ByteDance have all rallied to develop their versions of AI search tools

The competition has intensified as Perplexity, an emerging player from the United States, saw its valuation skyrocket from $520 million to a staggering $9 billion within a single year.

The digital landscape surrounding AI search is rapidly becoming crowdedPlayers in this field face a daunting question: how can they compete against established tech powerhouses? One industry insider noted that the initial entry barriers for AI search may appear low, yet deeper, more substantial hurdles loomMany current offerings remain immature, suggesting the potential for extensive refinementWhile an imminent commercialization model remains elusive, the anticipation of a transformative industry development keeps emerging and established companies alike on their toes.

As we ponder the future, it’s worth investigating the current stage of this bustling sectorIs the traditional search box becoming outdated? In late 2022, the advent of ChatGPT changed the landscape; users initially utilized it as a basic question-answering platform

Various outlets even compiled lists of the most intriguing questions to pose to AIWhat’s noteworthy is that the search capabilities of AI have developed in tandem with large language models, marking a significant evolution in the user experience.

Historical searches relied heavily on presenting users with a plethora of links to sift through, whereas AI now directly delivers answers—streamlining the process completelyIn a podcast episode featuring 360 AI's lead product manager, it was revealed that user inquiries have shifted dramatically over the yearsIn 2019, address-seeking inquiries accounted for 42% of searches, whereas now, roughly 72% of questions posed to 360 AI represent direct queries, allowing users to engage with the technology more naturally.

The momentum built around AI search isn't just theoretical—it reflects genuine demand by users seeking a more intuitive interface

As seen with Perplexity's meteoric rise, which secured four rounds of financing in 2024 alone, this evolution is poised to create an unprecedented demand for deep, user-friendly search solutionsAdditionally, in October 2024, OpenAI introduced its ChatGPT search feature, joining the ranks of established competitors like Google and Bing in claiming market share.

In Asia, major internet enterprises—including Baidu, Tencent, and ByteDance—have swiftly launched their AI-based searching tools, often in the form of standalone web extensions or applications, utilizing existing data and resourcesAn illustrative example is 360’s newly minted “Nano Search,” which is already claiming top traffic status in the global AI-native search engine sector.

Meanwhile, startups like Miku strive toward innovation at a faster pace, iterating on original AI search concepts with features targeted to specific applications

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Throughout this environment, legacy companies have frowned upon the potential for traditional search to remain sufficientWith trillions of data points floating in the ether, harnessing that effectively is paramount for both burgeoning startups and established firms.

While the simplicity of AI search functions may suggest low complexity, the industry's challenges are evidentFor starters, access to high-quality data is indicative of a powerful advantage—one that firms with robust databases leverage effectivelyNotably, the larger the dataset at one’s disposal, the deeper and richer the information accessibility for usersAs such, companies holding vast reserves of reliable data are fortifying their competitive barricades in the AI search arena.

Therefore, not only is the quality of data central, but the efficiency and accuracy of search results depend greatly on indexing systems—similar to reference catalogs in libraries

Enhanced indexing capabilities, akin to those developed by Google or Bing, have led to considerable advantages that new entrants lackFor instance, it was shared that reaching a repository of 50 million websites requires considerable investment, further complicating the landscape for startups trying to establish themselves among established players.

While some emerging players have opted to employ existing indexes accessible via APIs, the broader issue remains: How should these startups carve out segments of knowledge that remain underrepresented? Furthermore, in a world where effective AI requires more than just rapid searches, the real challenge lies in delivering unique insights—something that traditional search engines often struggle to achieve.

The commercialization aspect remains a looming questionAnalysts predict AI search will soon prove its worth, and initiating user outreach will be pivotal