The internet is undergoing the biggest change since its inception. It's huge. And there is no going back. The web is changing into the Zero Click Internet, and it will change everything.
The Zero Click Internet
- Thread starter Julio Franco
- Start date
Brickwizard
Posts: 79 +87
Sorry I still would not trust Fake intelligence, even if Ii plugged it into the rear end of an electric sheep, myself
This is a bit doom and gloom. Will it happen?
Yes probably, but many will still look to do things "the old way" and circumvent these platforms, so I think the timelines in this article are too short - this will take longer.
No more need for intelligence for the masses, just stupidity - doom scrolling forever
Yes probably, but many will still look to do things "the old way" and circumvent these platforms, so I think the timelines in this article are too short - this will take longer.
No more need for intelligence for the masses, just stupidity - doom scrolling forever
quadibloc
Posts: 441 +297
If this were pulled off, it would unquestionably be bad. It would be the end of the Internet as anything useful.
This is an interesting article. I have noticed this shift but did not know the name for it. It is both useful and frustrating at the same time. It means that you don't know how to verify the authenticity of the answer (aka provenance). If I can't review the links where the data comes from, I can't know for sure if it is just made up BS from a forum site or a from a trustworthy site. To be fair, I am not even sure that any one site counts as a trustworthy source any more. I typically expect to the find the same answer on different sites to ensure it is "true". However, not having to click through and read 3-5 websites to get an answer is very convenient.
My biggest concern is just the fundamental dilution of knowledge and authenticity of information. I think it is great that things like ChatGPT can effectively summarize and communicate vast amounts of knowledge from the internet into a simple to understand conversation, but at least when I use it I know that it is fallible and need to check its authenticity of information. However, I use Google to search the internet to check the results. If Google just becomes the same as ChatGPT, then WTF do I do? Start adding in the fact that these tools just summarize text from the internet and the internet is just more summarized stuff from other LLMs, then how do you ever now that something is authentically true?
FYI, here is some clarifying info that I used Google and "clicked links" to find out about "Zero Click Internet". Without this, I was not even sure this article was even a real thing, because some of the claims seemed pretty dystopian (which it may still be).
The more common term is "zero-click search". "... where the answer is provided directly on the search results page, eliminating the need for users to click through to an external website" (wearediagram.com).
"Zero-click searches are results that provide immediate answers directly on the search engine results page. The object is to provide the most direct answer to a user’s query without requiring them to click through to external websites." (singlegrain.com)
My biggest concern is just the fundamental dilution of knowledge and authenticity of information. I think it is great that things like ChatGPT can effectively summarize and communicate vast amounts of knowledge from the internet into a simple to understand conversation, but at least when I use it I know that it is fallible and need to check its authenticity of information. However, I use Google to search the internet to check the results. If Google just becomes the same as ChatGPT, then WTF do I do? Start adding in the fact that these tools just summarize text from the internet and the internet is just more summarized stuff from other LLMs, then how do you ever now that something is authentically true?
FYI, here is some clarifying info that I used Google and "clicked links" to find out about "Zero Click Internet". Without this, I was not even sure this article was even a real thing, because some of the claims seemed pretty dystopian (which it may still be).
The more common term is "zero-click search". "... where the answer is provided directly on the search results page, eliminating the need for users to click through to an external website" (wearediagram.com).
"Zero-click searches are results that provide immediate answers directly on the search engine results page. The object is to provide the most direct answer to a user’s query without requiring them to click through to external websites." (singlegrain.com)
VitalyT
Posts: 7,220 +8,847
This is disturbing, giving Google too much power, which they surely will abuse.
adaplect
Posts: 15 +19
LLMs do not generate knowledge, they simply present the knowledge in a better way. And that knowledge comes from internet links. And it is good practice for LLM providers to include the links that the generated answers used. I believe most of them do.
So it's not really that different. It's like search on steroids.
So it's not really that different. It's like search on steroids.
The collapse in a year won’t happen but the trend is there.
If the Feds break up Google, it will slow this down.
If the Feds break up Google, it will slow this down.
I'm calling BS. I believe in the attempt, but I think the hinderence this will have on society will make significant push back inevitable. Mostly because the Ad filled vision they have for us is so terrible that people won't put up with it.
Microsoft is pushing people towards Linux, Google is pushing users towards Firefox.
See, the issue is that government officials don't care until something impacts them. If Microsoft keeps spying on user's and businesses, it's going to work it's way up to the government level when they say "we can't have this crap around"
Microsoft is pushing people towards Linux, Google is pushing users towards Firefox.
See, the issue is that government officials don't care until something impacts them. If Microsoft keeps spying on user's and businesses, it's going to work it's way up to the government level when they say "we can't have this crap around"
Say hello to the biggest censorship ever. You will find what the few corps will want you to.
brucek
Posts: 2,057 +3,301
Interesting article, but it doesn't reflect how I consume content.
Yes, Google answers many of my reference-book type questions ("what is PostgreSQL's function for string length?") on page. But the Postgres documentation team isn't in it for the clicks, and before there was an internet there were paper manuals. We got on just fine.
But as convenient as those quick interactions may be, that's not where I spend the bulk of my time. That goes to the content creators and communities that I enjoy, which is not something Google's search result page will ever be. It's comparing the busy airport you used to get to your vacation, to the coffee shop or the beach or the museum that you actually enjoy.
I get that there may be transitions for some businesses and business models. I'm not sure that's terrible. I'm old enough to have watched the internet from the ground up, and the move towards being for-profit, advertising-driven, clickbait-y medium has not always been for the best (I'd argue, usually not.) Before anyone was trying to make a dime we had usenet news groups and community driven FAQs and guides that could often be more information-dense and better organized than what you can find now.
Yes, Google answers many of my reference-book type questions ("what is PostgreSQL's function for string length?") on page. But the Postgres documentation team isn't in it for the clicks, and before there was an internet there were paper manuals. We got on just fine.
But as convenient as those quick interactions may be, that's not where I spend the bulk of my time. That goes to the content creators and communities that I enjoy, which is not something Google's search result page will ever be. It's comparing the busy airport you used to get to your vacation, to the coffee shop or the beach or the museum that you actually enjoy.
I get that there may be transitions for some businesses and business models. I'm not sure that's terrible. I'm old enough to have watched the internet from the ground up, and the move towards being for-profit, advertising-driven, clickbait-y medium has not always been for the best (I'd argue, usually not.) Before anyone was trying to make a dime we had usenet news groups and community driven FAQs and guides that could often be more information-dense and better organized than what you can find now.
brucek
Posts: 2,057 +3,301
Having clicked into a few more related articles, there's an interesting sub-topic about why is Google so often linking to poor-quality, shallow, low value sites? Maybe that's moot if Google's goal is to not link to any sites at all, but I don't believe that's a viable end game. Google was not the first search engine, but it became the leading one because it produced better answers more quickly and more consistently. If in its later years Google becomes the search engine that primarily produces low quality answers and leads, someone new will eat their lunch, just as they did to Yahoo, Alta Vista, Lycos and the others back in the beginning.
Unless you are part of the cabal that is positioning itself for absolute control of the information people get ..... hence - its good for those that crave absolute power
Anton Longshot
Posts: 155 +286
"Instead you'll spend all your time on a small handful of platforms and apps like Google or TikTok and never leave them."
Nonsense. I for one do not display surfing behavior even remotely like it.
Furthermore, I block ALL ads (virtual salesmen aren't welcome in my home) so advertisers and those in the advertising business don't make money off me... if I'm not mistaken an increasing number of people do the same.
I'm curious to see where it's all going but should the Internet become too ugly for my tastes I will QUIT using it for fun and spend my computing time gaming, downloading media and Internet banking. I did not miss the Web when it didn't exist and can easily go back there.
Nonsense. I for one do not display surfing behavior even remotely like it.
Furthermore, I block ALL ads (virtual salesmen aren't welcome in my home) so advertisers and those in the advertising business don't make money off me... if I'm not mistaken an increasing number of people do the same.
I'm curious to see where it's all going but should the Internet become too ugly for my tastes I will QUIT using it for fun and spend my computing time gaming, downloading media and Internet banking. I did not miss the Web when it didn't exist and can easily go back there.
kiwigraeme
Posts: 2,747 +2,032
I hear the EU firing up their lawyers
ie this is Google being real dumb, if it does not implement it in the right way
Google can be annoying AF, I hardly use my phone for search , google a businesses phone number , click on first link , realised it's a paid advertiser
This won't work on us on PCs we know how to break out we are know the target
I suppose googles reasoning is how is this different from say chatgpt. where no links given
Back to my google is annoying AF - this would be horrendous on a phone , as whole relistate taken up by this and few pages down - why I never use phones for any serious research except about to buy something in a shop
ie this is Google being real dumb, if it does not implement it in the right way
Google can be annoying AF, I hardly use my phone for search , google a businesses phone number , click on first link , realised it's a paid advertiser
This won't work on us on PCs we know how to break out we are know the target
I suppose googles reasoning is how is this different from say chatgpt. where no links given
Back to my google is annoying AF - this would be horrendous on a phone , as whole relistate taken up by this and few pages down - why I never use phones for any serious research except about to buy something in a shop
Brickwizard
Posts: 79 +87
What you think of the internet , will by some extent be guided by your past experience, for myself that was dial up V22 enhanced running at 2,400-bit/s, [very fast for the time] costing me a fortune at the rate of 1uk pence per minute, We didn't have any effluent to contend with as most sites were Universities and larger business, social media and online gaming was not even a thought let alone a possibility, today we have a great many sources supplying information, the hardest thing to do is disseminate the useful and accurate results from the tones of bovine excrement thrown at us by commercial search engines.
Cute, but no The systems available now let people create their own localhost and host their own web pages and interfaces without a domain name
Google cloud, and a lot of other cloud services are free
Most people will use advanced versions of Cursor AI and Pythagora AI to write code by talking to it
It is looking to be advanced enough to create a whole app and webbased interface for home computers in the next 6 months
After that, everyone will have their own sites forever
Sorry to disappoint you, but facts are facts!
Google cloud, and a lot of other cloud services are free
Most people will use advanced versions of Cursor AI and Pythagora AI to write code by talking to it
It is looking to be advanced enough to create a whole app and webbased interface for home computers in the next 6 months
After that, everyone will have their own sites forever
Sorry to disappoint you, but facts are facts!
guillejp
Posts: 141 +141
Aaaaaaaahhh so that's why Instagram doesn't make urls into clickable links!
Zsoltblabla
Posts: 98 +187
As someone who had a successful digital publishing small business - I can say that the first part is already true!
My websites made reliable income for about 15 years, but the last two years my revenues simply collapsed. Why? Because none is doing research on websites anymore. Its all Google, YouTube and TikTok.
I am not alone. Tuis is what all my contacts in the industry say as well.
No revenue - I cant pay for SEO - they cant pay for content creation or graphic design… its a chain reaction.
Yes, most of these people move on to videos, but the payouts for views are now incredibly small. Only subjects with big audiences ha d a chance.
Its brutal how fast everything is changing… things will only get worse… much worse
My websites made reliable income for about 15 years, but the last two years my revenues simply collapsed. Why? Because none is doing research on websites anymore. Its all Google, YouTube and TikTok.
I am not alone. Tuis is what all my contacts in the industry say as well.
No revenue - I cant pay for SEO - they cant pay for content creation or graphic design… its a chain reaction.
Yes, most of these people move on to videos, but the payouts for views are now incredibly small. Only subjects with big audiences ha d a chance.
Its brutal how fast everything is changing… things will only get worse… much worse
Mr Majestyk
Posts: 2,420 +2,251
"Google is now aggressively scraping content from websites and displaying it directly in search results. What few search results remain are buried so far down the page that almost no one sees or clicks on them anymore. And Google's plan is to bury them even further in coming months. And that's what a Zero Click Internet means. It means an end to users visiting websites, entirely."
Sure if you're stupid enough to continue using Google search and/or don't easily alter the search string to banish AI results. More and more people will learn how to this and others will make a small script to do it for you. Personally, I've stopped using Google search months ago and don't use Chrome browser at all. I do not get any AI search results, so my Internet is 100% clicks.
Combine that with the DoJ looking at breaking up Google and fostering competition in the search engine space, sounds like this article was written inside a bubble
Sure if you're stupid enough to continue using Google search and/or don't easily alter the search string to banish AI results. More and more people will learn how to this and others will make a small script to do it for you. Personally, I've stopped using Google search months ago and don't use Chrome browser at all. I do not get any AI search results, so my Internet is 100% clicks.
Combine that with the DoJ looking at breaking up Google and fostering competition in the search engine space, sounds like this article was written inside a bubble
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ZedRM
Posts: 2,857 +1,886
Ironically, the very title of this article is "click" bait.
Also, the idea of a "click-less" internet is silly. I would use a more "colorful" metaphor, but the Techspot mods..
Also, the idea of a "click-less" internet is silly. I would use a more "colorful" metaphor, but the Techspot mods..
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"Mostly because the Ad filled vision they have for us is so terrible that people won't put up with it."
Personally I won't touch a 'smart tv' with a bargepole.............HOWEVER......It seems that millions upon millions of people are happy/brainwashed enough to let Amazon et al shove ads down their throats endlessy.....sad.
psycros
Posts: 4,913 +7,644
So we're being dragged back to the age of "web portals" and other late 90's Internet parasitism. That's fine for the sheep - the rest of us will remain free even if it means living on the deep web.
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