I’m trying… I’m trying real hard to be the shepherd ringo.

… and yet here we are ?

Nonsense. Your metaphor is not analogous.

Sophisticated tech firms do extensive analysis with reference groups, A/B testing, et cetera.

Guaranteed, they’ve found that they get better engagement with their product through these AI results.

This might shock you but a group of 14 year olds complaining on Lemmy is not an indicative sample of opinions.

Hyperbole & subjective. Flatpaks aren’t all that.

My point is, it seems like moat people disagree with you given that search providers put this stuff in their results.

Obviously I pay for a search engine. The advertising funded web is shit.

That’s true, but I think people still appreciate it… like it’s accurate enough, enough of the time, for people to find it helpful.

I like kagi more than ddg. It’s not free but meh.

Ugh. Do you really want that though? They do have a store don’t they? Just no one wants to use it.

Debian has had a browseable catalog since forever but it’s still waaay better to just go to a third party’s website and see how they say to install whatever thing.

I feel like most commenters here would think “no one wants the stupid ai response”, but obviously some people like it or they wouldn’t do it. I think if your searches are more general kind of “can I catch chicken pox from chickens” type questions it might be helpful ?

Dude. When you’re looking at whatever search just right click in the url bar and there will be an option to add that search engine. Then in settings you can make it your default if you wish.

The reason I don’t use SearXNG is because the public instances always seem to be slow and or broken.

Lots of people do lots of things.

I have a second sim card for my phone. I just turn off that sim when I’m not working, and set my status as away for group chat.

In this context, there isn’t any tangible benefit to having a second phone.

I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s how it plans out.

A regular group chat and another signal one for when you specifically need to talk to OP.

Having two phones absolutely sucks. Didn’t work for me at all.

The flag looks a bit like a disgruntled goose.

If one company is stifling competition, then competitors don’t have the resources required to innovate.

When you look at competitors offerings, you’re seeing the best they can do in a google-dominated market.

Real competition benefits users.

The problem is, if one company dominates search, you have no way to evaluate whether they are doing it well.

Mozilla could do search themselves.

There’s no way in hell I will ever own a toothbrush with any sort of connectivity, but electric toothbrushes really are pretty great. Teeth feel way cleaner.

I’ve heard the sonic ones are amazing because they can clean the pockets between the gum and tooth… never had the money for that though.