Evolving Purpose of Search Engines

The original purpose of search engines like Google was to help users find specific websites, facilitating access to information. Over time, the functionality has shifted towards providing immediate factual answers, which can detract from the value of discovering real-world applications and specific resources, such as local businesses. While Google's indexing and algorithmic sorting represent a profound achievement in the tech industry, the shift away from targeted searches to generalized knowledge queries raises concerns about meeting user needs. Users often require direct access to real-world entities rather than just broad information, highlighting a disconnect between evolving user expectations and the search engine’s focus.