Googling has almost become synonymous with searching on the internet. But Google and other traditional search engines such as Bing receive strong competition from AI. Which tools are there that let you find ‘smarter’?
Toon van Daele
We have actually been looking for the internet in the same way for thirty years, via search engines such as Google and Microsoft Bing. Such programs continuously search through left To new or changed web pages and stores the information in a huge, searchable database (index). If you then surf to www.google.com or www.bing.com via your browser and enter a search term there, the program searches that index for relevant pages. Then a step -by -step plan (so -called algorithm) ranks the results on relevance, with the most suitable web pages in principle at the top.
 |
| The results of a traditional search engine (here Google, with search term bird cherry) |
Enriched results
Google and Microsoft have been trying to make boring search results more attractive and more convenient for some time by adding extra information (‘rich content’). Feel free to try it yourself and enter a search term at Google or Bing, for example bogelkers. Extra info blocks appear at the top and right of the search results.
 |
| Search engines often enrich the search results with extra core information |
At Google, for example, you see an image carousel with source references at the top (such as Wikipedia), followed by related questions with answers if you click on the corresponding arrow buttons. On the right you will find the ‘knowledge window’: a block with core information from well -known sources and databases. However, this is not a real AI: this is discussed in the following tips.
Artificial IntelligenceThese enriched results often already give the necessary information so you no longer have to click on the left. Yet this is not a AI yet. But what is AI anyway? AI stands for artificial intelligence and can also help to search smarter. AI has processed a huge number of texts and books and learns to recognize connections between words, sentences and questions. If you look up something, AI compares your question with what it has learned earlier. This allows AI to better understand what you mean. Moreover, AI can search in large databases to give a clear answer or to summarize information. Ai works a bit like a person who has read a lot and can explain it well. |
Perplexity (search term)
In the meantime, there are different – also free – tools and services that help you to search the internet smarter and more efficiently. One of the better is perplexity. Surf to www.perplexity.ai and enter a question (or search term) What do you want to know? After your confirmation with the Enter-Test investigates Perplexity the sources and distils a well -arranged and concise answer.
Click on the answer Export To turn it into a PDF document, or press it Copy-button to send it to the clipboard (you can then use the content Ctrl + V stick in a document).
 |
| After some research you (usually) get a clear answer from Perplexity |
 |
| You can view the sources consulted (by partial) |
Perplexity (answer)
A figure appears with some participants. That refers to the source used and you can view those sources through Sources to click, just under your question. If you click on such a number, then you immediately go to the web page of that source.
The answer usually includes a few questions that are directly related to your search term. You can click on such a question or ask yourself an additional question in the bar Ask Continued. To start a completely new question, click on top left New thread (or the plus button).
 |
| Perplexity also lets you dig deeper (after registration, or with a pro-account) |
Perplexity (extra)
Bottom left you see the button Sign up. If you click on this, you can register with, for example, your Google or Apple account. This gives you some benefits. For example, you can perform up to five pro-search assignments every day and you can upload to ten own documents per day via the Paperclip icon and ask questions about this. You start a pro-search order Ask something button Auto to click and choose one of the available methods, such as Advantages (for more sources and details) or Deep research (For complex topics).
You
A similar and also free service is you. Surf to www.you.com and submit (also Dutch -language) question How Can I Help. Press the Enter-key for the answer, where clickable figures indicate the sources used. If you have connected a microphone, you can click on the microphone icon and record your question, after a click on Allow. At the bottom you see related questions whether you enter a follow -up question yourself Ask a follow-up. Register via Sign in (for example with your Google or Apple account), then you will save your chat/search history and you can upload your own files for inquiry via the plus button At the bottom.
 |
| You.com is well comparable to Perplexity in terms of functionality (AI and search) |
 |
| With the ‘Elaborate’ button you pick up even more detailed answers |
Good search
Just like Google and Bing, Brave Search is originally a traditional search engine, but without personal information being collected. Surf to search.brave.com and tap your search term or ask. Click on the Enter-key or on the magnifying glass icon to see traditional search results in the form of links.
If you click on the Ster icon, Brave AI will switch on for concise, well-arranged answers, including clickable sources. A beam appears at the bottom where you can enter a follow -up question. If you want more details in the AI ​​answer, click on Elaborate. A summary in tabular form may now also appear at the bottom.
Browser Search EngineDepending on your browser, there is a good chance that it will use a search engine such as Google, Bing or Duckduckgo as standard. But what if you prefer to use an AI-controlled search engine as a good search? You set this as follows at Chrome. Start Chrome And click on the three dots at the top right. Molar Institutions and open the section Search engine. When you now in the address bar on the test b and the Tab presses, and then enter a question or keyword, this is immediately passed on to good as soon as you on Enter presses. For example, you can be good search as |
Click on Search engines and site search manage. Brave already there, click on the pencil icon and only change Quick -coupling In (for example) the letter b. Mount with Save. Brave is not there yet, click on Add. Fill a naam in (as Good search),),, b bee Quick -coupling and https://search.brave.com/search?q=%S in the URL-field. Mount with Add.Chatgpt
Perhaps you have already used Chatgpt, but a search function has now been added with which ChatGPT can pick up information from the internet. Surf to www.chatgpt.com and enter your question. Use your keywords as currently or currentor mention a time if April 2025then Chatgpt will normally automatically consult the internet. For more certainty, click before you Enter presses the globe icon To searchso that this turns blue.
Report Search the internet Now appears. With some answers you see a button for the source references. Or you click on the bottom Sourcesso that a clickable source overview appears on the right.
 |
| With the globe icon, you also force chatgpt to search the internet for information |
Browser extension
If you want to use Chatgpt’s internet search function as standard, you can add a special extension to your browser that sets this if your standard search engine. Surf to tinyurl.com/chatgpt-texension and click Field. to Chrome (Chrome) or download (edge). Confirm with extension and, if requested, with switching on. From now on your browser uses chatgpt when you enter a question or search term in the address bar. In the text frame ‘Browser search engine’ you can read how you can set a different search engine as a standard. In this case, first click to set off at Chatgpt Search this setting in the search engine section (Chrome
 |
| You can set Chatgpt as a standard search engine via a browser extension |
 |
| Copilot forms a nice addition to the traditional search engine bing |
Bing and Copilot
Microsoft is of course not left behind and has now expanded the classic search engine Bing with AI in the form of Copilot. Start with a normal search via www.bing.com and enter your question. Preferably use words like recently,, ” current,, ” Today,, ” online sources or according to websitesor possibly include a URL in your question. Confirm with the Enter-test. If you want AI fillings combined with internet searches, click on the colorful button Chat with Copilot. You get an AI-controlled answer with source references (recognizable by numbers). Related follow -up questions appear at the bottom. You can also surf directly to Copilot.microsoft.com to skip Bing
.
Copilot (Edge)
If you use the Edge browser, you can also open Copilot directly from here. Click on the colorful Copilot button or press Ctrl + Shift + . (point). Enter your question in the search bar at the bottom of your question. You normally also receive references to online sources with numbers or you can click them at the bottom. Below you will also find the button Message copy With which you send the answer to the Windows clipboard.
 |
| You can even refer to your opened webpage and have current information searched on the internet |
Google Gemini
Google is also fully working on the integration of AI into the online search function. The latest experiments are on labs.google.com/search, but unfortunately they are not yet available. You can already go to gemini.google.com. As with Copilot, you prefer to use words that turn on Gemini to real -time Searches. If all goes well, Gemini marks certain parts of the answer in the green and you can view the sources consulted via the arrow buttons. That source unfortunately does not always appear or in a consistent way.
 |
| The AI ​​integration in real-time online searches is in full development here |
Mobile
With the right apps you can also combine smart AI answers on your mobile with real -time Internet search assignments. Most of the tools mentioned also exist as a mobile app. You can find them in the Android and Apple app stores: Perplexity- Ask Anything, You.com, Chatgpt (use the OpenAI!), Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini app. The latter is often less transparent about the sources used for the time being. For mobile use of good search, install a good browser or set a different mobile browser with Brave as a search engine (see also text frame browser search engine). In most apps you can also record questions via the microphone icon.
You can in the Mobile Chatgpt app from OpenAI
Also say your questions