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.
Kagi Search has integrated Privacy Pass, a privacy-preserving technology, to reduce CAPTCHA frequency for paid users. This allows Kagi to verify a user's legitimacy without revealing their identity or tracking their browsing habits. By issuing anonymized tokens via the Privacy Pass browser extension, users can bypass CAPTCHAs, improving their search experience while maintaining their online privacy. This added layer of privacy is exclusive to paying Kagi subscribers as part of their commitment to a user-friendly and secure search environment.
HN commenters generally expressed skepticism about Kagi's Privacy Pass implementation. Several questioned the actual privacy benefits, pointing out that Kagi still knows the user's IP address and search queries, even with the pass. Others doubted the practicality of the system, citing the potential for abuse and the added complexity for users. Some suggested alternative privacy-enhancing technologies like onion routing or decentralized search. The effectiveness of Privacy Pass in preventing fingerprinting was also debated, with some arguing it offered minimal protection. A few commenters expressed interest in the technology and its potential, but the overall sentiment leaned towards cautious skepticism.
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.