Forget AI. Google just created a version of its search engine free of all the extra junk it has added over the past decade-plus. All you have to do is add “udm=14” to the search URL.
While Google made its AI-focused changes known on its biggest stage—during its Google I/O event—the Web filter was curiously announced on Twitter by Search Liaison Danny Sullivan.
As Sullivan wrote:
- We’ve added this after hearing from some that there are times when they’d prefer to just see links to web pages in their search results, such as if they’re looking for longer-form text documents, using a device with limited internet access, or those who just prefer text-based results shown separately from search features. If you’re in that group, enjoy!*
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https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/05/google-searchs-udm14-trick-lets-you-kill-ai-search-for-good/
https://venturebeat.com/ai/how-to-use-google-search-without-ai-the-udm14-work-around/
Agree. There’s nothing we can do to bring back the ability to look up harm reduction information for drug users, for example.
Is this an area where the quality of results particularly degraded ?
They’re outright censored. Search for information on certain drugs (dosages, best practices, etc) and Google will not show you any information beyond studies about the drug and rehab sites.
Whereas DDG, Bing, etc will show all the sites dedicated to safe drug usage. At least they did a few years ago.
It’s been documented by /r/drugs for a few years now.
That said, I don’t particularly think this is a great example of Google fucking their own search up because there’s reason to believe this may be due regulatory pressure.
Yes in my experience and the experience of many others. See this recent example:
Erowid is the OG resource for that