Has AI killed the Search Engine?

2nd October 2025

As more people use AI to find things for them online, is this the end for search engines?

When we wanted to know something before the internet we had to search through books, encyclopaedias, or, worst of all, ask someone else if they knew and just trust they were telling the truth – truly, they were dark times.

Then came the web, and with it (eventually), search engines. You could type anything in and you would have all the world’s knowledge returned to you, accessible by simply clicking on the links. Suddenly, pub trivia night became much more straightforward (though where is the fun in cheating?)!

For years, search engines like Chrome, Safari, Edge and Firefox were popular and lucrative because we needed them: they were our gateway to the internet, to information, to the rest of the world. That was until AI was introduced developed over the last few years: now, search engines have competition.

Now, people are starting to use AI to search as they were with search engines – what are the advantages to this type of search (and why, despite this, might search engines still be relevant in the coming years)?

AI over search engines

·         AI tools provide direct answers rather than links – less work for the user

·         AI understands nuance and intent, giving tailored recommendations and responses

·         AI can do a lot of things search engines can’t: if you’re already using the app, you may as well search there

·         AI search engine hybrids are starting to emerge, showing that even search engine providers recognise the shifting landscape

Search engines over AI

·         Search engines pull from live sources, news and official sites – AI isn’t always up-to-date and accurate

·         Search engines show where information comes from, whereas AI doesn’t always have clear citations, which is an issue for research and journalism

·         Search engines encourage exploration and looking at multiple sources: AI gives you all the information in one, lacking diversity

·         Search engines are still important for businesses for search visibility, while AI can bypass websites, which could disrupt marketing, advertising and e-commerce

So, are search engines likely to be shelved? Unlikely – instead (and this process has already started) hybrid models may be used to get the best out of both technologies. Google uses AI as part of its search, providing users with a quick, simple answer at the top and pages of results below, giving options for those who want information fast and others who want to research topics more extensively.

Do you use AI or search engines to find the information you need? Contact Interfuture Systems, we’d be curious to know!

YouTube: https://youtu.be/hn21wuG0c5Y