Kagi's AI assistant, previously in beta, is now available to all users. It aims to provide a more private and personalized search experience by focusing on factual answers, incorporating user feedback, and avoiding generic chatbot responses. Key features include personalized summarization of search results, the ability to ask clarifying questions, and ad-free, unbiased information retrieval powered by Kagi's independent search index. Users can access the assistant directly from the search bar or a dedicated sidebar.
Anthropic has announced that its AI assistant, Claude, now has access to real-time web search capabilities. This allows Claude to access and process information from the web, enabling more up-to-date and comprehensive responses to user prompts. This new feature enhances Claude's abilities across various tasks, including summarization, creative writing, Q&A, and coding, by grounding its responses in current information. Users can now expect Claude to deliver more factually accurate and contextually relevant answers by leveraging the vast knowledge base available online.
HN commenters discuss Claude's new web search capability, with several expressing excitement about its potential to challenge Google's dominance. Some praise Claude's more conversational and contextual search results compared to traditional keyword-based approaches. Concerns were raised about the lack of source links in the initial version, potentially hindering fact-checking and further exploration. However, Anthropic quickly responded to this criticism, stating they were actively working on incorporating source links and planned to release the feature soon. Several users noted Claude's strengths in summarizing and synthesizing information, suggesting its potential usefulness for research and complex queries. Comparisons were made to Perplexity AI, another conversational search engine, with some users finding Claude more conversational and less prone to hallucinations. There's general optimism about the future of AI-powered search and Claude's role in it.
Marginalia is a search engine designed to surface non-commercial content, prioritizing personal websites, blogs, and other independently published works often overshadowed by commercial results in mainstream search. It aims to rediscover the original spirit of the web by focusing on unique, human-generated content and fostering a richer, more diverse online experience. The search engine utilizes a custom index built by crawling sites linked from curated sources, filtering out commercial and spammy domains. Marginalia emphasizes quality over quantity, presenting a smaller, more carefully selected set of results to help users find hidden gems and explore lesser-known corners of the internet.
Hacker News users generally praised Marginalia's concept of prioritizing non-commercial content, viewing it as a refreshing alternative to mainstream search engines saturated with ads and SEO-driven results. Several commenters expressed enthusiasm for the focus on personal websites, blogs, and academic resources. Some questioned the long-term viability of relying solely on donations, while others suggested potential improvements like user accounts, saved searches, and more granular control over source filtering. There was also discussion around the definition of "non-commercial," with some users highlighting the inherent difficulty in objectively classifying content. A few commenters shared their initial search experiences, noting both successes in finding unique content and instances where the results were too niche or limited. Overall, the sentiment leaned towards cautious optimism, with many expressing hope that Marginalia could carve out a valuable space in the search landscape.
SimpleSearch is a website that aggregates a large directory of specialized search engines, presented as a straightforward, uncluttered list. It aims to provide a quick access point for users to find information across various domains, from academic resources and code repositories to specific file types and social media platforms. Rather than relying on a single, general-purpose search engine, SimpleSearch offers a curated collection of tools tailored to different search needs.
HN users generally praised SimpleSearch for its clean design and utility, particularly for its quick access to various specialized search engines. Several commenters suggested additions, including academic search engines like BASE and PubMed, code-specific search like Sourcegraph, and visual search tools like Google Images. Some discussed the benefits of curated lists versus relying on browser search engines, with a few noting the project's similarity to existing search aggregators. The creator responded to several suggestions and expressed interest in incorporating user feedback. A minor point of contention arose regarding the inclusion of Google, but overall the reception was positive, with many appreciating the simplicity and convenience offered by the site.
Summary of Comments ( 222 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43724941
Hacker News users discussed Kagi Assistant's public release with cautious optimism. Several praised its speed and accuracy compared to alternatives like ChatGPT and Perplexity, particularly for coding tasks and factual queries. Some expressed concerns about the long-term viability of a subscription model for search, wondering if Kagi could maintain quality and compete with free, ad-supported giants. The integration with Kagi's existing search engine was generally seen as a positive, though some questioned its usefulness for simpler searches. A few commenters noted the potential for bias and the importance of transparency regarding the underlying model and training data. Others brought up the small company size and the challenge of scaling the service while maintaining performance and privacy. Overall, the sentiment was positive but tempered by pragmatic considerations about the future of paid search assistants.
The Hacker News post titled "Kagi Assistant is now available to all users" (linking to a blog post about Kagi's new AI assistant) generated a moderate amount of discussion, with several commenters expressing interest and sharing their initial experiences.
Several users praised Kagi's overall approach, particularly its subscription model and focus on privacy. One commenter specifically appreciated Kagi's commitment to not training their AI model on user data, seeing it as a refreshing change of pace from larger tech companies.
There was a discussion around the pricing, with some users finding it a bit steep while acknowledging the value proposition of a more private and potentially higher-quality search experience. One user suggested a tiered pricing model could be beneficial to cater to different usage needs and budgets.
Several commenters shared their early experiences with the assistant, highlighting its strengths in specific areas like coding and research. One user mentioned its proficiency in generating regular expressions, while another found it useful for quickly summarizing academic papers. Some also pointed out limitations, noting that the assistant was still under development and prone to occasional inaccuracies or hallucinations.
The conversation also touched upon the competitive landscape, comparing Kagi Assistant to other AI assistants like ChatGPT and Perplexity. Some users felt Kagi had the potential to carve out a niche for itself by catering to users who prioritize privacy and are willing to pay for a more curated and less ad-driven experience.
A few users expressed concerns about the long-term viability of smaller search engines like Kagi, questioning whether they could compete with the resources and data of tech giants. However, others countered this by arguing that there's a growing demand for alternatives that prioritize user privacy and offer a different approach to search.
Overall, the comments reflect a cautious optimism about Kagi Assistant, with users acknowledging its early stage of development while also expressing appreciation for its unique features and potential. Many commenters indicated a willingness to continue using and experimenting with the assistant to see how it evolves.