Can Google tell us the meaning of life?
Do you find yourself Googling the answers to life’s most profound questions? You’re not alone. A new survey revealed many people get pretty philosophical with our favorite search engine. Some people even trust Google over their family members!
AI is getting more intelligent and human-like by the day — but can a bot really replace those late-night chats over wine with pals?
Survey says
Over half of the survey’s respondents (55%) asked Google more than 10 questions daily, and 20% said they can’t go without asking something. Most people (96%) depend on Google when they need cold, hard facts.
The survey also found that people trust Google over today’s new AI chatbots. Only 10% of respondents would choose something like ChatGPT over the king of all search engines.
However, the trend this year seems to be around questions without any real answers. The most significant queries of the last 12 months include topics like meaning, dreams and sense of self.
The top 10 most popular “existential questions” to Google:
- Why is the sky blue?
- What do dreams mean?
- What is the meaning of life?
- Why am I so tired?
- Who am I?
- What is love?
- Is a hot dog a sandwich?
- Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
- What should I do?
- Do animals have souls?
What is love? (Google, don’t hurt me…)
So why do people ask Google these big questions? Some psychologists believe it’s simply human nature to need to know what’s going on in the world. Googling things like “Will everything be OK?” helps us feel less alone. Knowing you’re not the only one asking can feel like a virtual hug.
Researchers found that we most often Google when we’re looking for:
- Entertainment
- Unbiased answers
- Answers to uncomfortable questions
- Companionship
And, of course, when we’re just plain bored.
Don’t get trapped in the Googleplex
If you’re going to ask Google for answers to your burning questions, be smart about it. Avoid these pitfalls to keep yourself sane and grounded:
- Google’s Sponsored Results section is known to contain a scam or two. Crooks copy top websites and pay to have their sites appear at the top of the list. If you’re not careful, you could give away your personal info with a few clicks.
- Steer clear of commonly scammed search terms, like free credit report, free people search and how to make money online.
- Don’t make WebMD the substitute for your doctor. Many diseases and conditions share the same common symptoms and it’s super-easy to go down the wrong rabbit hole.
Want to keep your uber-deep convos private? This article shows you how to stop your devices from listening to your every word.
Tags: chatbots, devices, family, Google, search engine, survey
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