EconTalk Sridhar Ramaswamy on Google, Search, and Neeva
Jun 13, 2022
Sridhar Ramaswamy, former head of advertising at Google and CEO of Neeva, discusses the hidden costs of using ad-supported search engines. He reveals how Google's focus on monetizing user attention shapes search results. Ramaswamy advocates for Neeva, a subscription-based search engine prioritizing user privacy and exploring the ethics behind surveillance and ads. The conversation ventures into the philosophical aspects of search, the evolution of online interactions, and the need for innovative competition in the tech landscape.
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Grandfather's Phrase
- Russ Roberts's grandfather was haunted by a phrase he couldn't identify.
- Google quickly provided the answer, relieving his anxiety.
Google's Success
- Google's success stems from its PageRank algorithm and timing during the internet's content explosion.
- Search ads capitalize on user intent by injecting commercial messages during information seeking.
AdWords Magic
- AdWords revolutionized advertising by shifting the burden of relevance to advertisers.
- The cost-per-click (CPC) model aligns advertiser, user, and platform interests.
