Google’s Search’s New Generative Experience is Unpopular Among SEOs

AI has started to make its way into virtually every facet of the tech industry, and Google has been going full speed ahead to incorporate it into as many features as possible. The latest AI experiment that Google has been conducting has to do with the new generative experience it has added to its search engine. The way this works is that an AI would essentially provide you with a summary of your search results in order to allow you to go through them more easily than might have been the case otherwise.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that there is one specific group of people who don’t seem to be enjoying the addition all that much, namely SEOs. Responding to a recent Twitter poll, SEO professionals were quick to comment on how little they liked the new generative experience in Google Search. 20.5% said that it was not an improvement, 28.4% appeared to be ambivalent about it, and just 6.7% called it a massive upgrade.

Interestingly enough, 44.3% of the SEO professionals that responded to this survey simply clicked on the “see answers” response. This seems to suggest that they are still forming their opinions on it, and they wanted to see what other people said because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up helping them form their own opinions.

However, if we were to only look at the SEOs that selected one of the actual responses, 88% of them either aren’t too impressed with the new generative experience or they are downright unhappy. SEOs will have to work overtime if AI is compressing all of the search results, since this can make their jobs harder with all things having been considered and taken into account.

All in all, the Google Search Generative Experience is proving to be controversial among SEOs. It remains to be seen how regular consumers react to it, since theirs will be the opinions that matter most in the long run when Google is deciding whether or not to keep it.



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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

WhatsApp tests Filters to make Channel Discovery easy for everyone

WhatsApp is constantly working on new features to enhance the user experience, and one exciting addition on the horizon is the ability to discover new channels using filters. This upcoming feature, as reported by WABetaInfo, promises to make finding and exploring new content within the app easier than ever before.

WhatsApp is known primarily as a messaging platform, but it has been steadily expanding its offerings to include more interactive features. Channels are one such addition, allowing users to join and follow specific topics or themes of interest. Currently, discovering new channels can be a bit of a challenge, as there is no dedicated search or filter functionality.

The new feature will enable users to search for channels based on filters. These filters will help narrow down the search results to match specific criteria. For instance, users will be able to filter channels by category, language, popularity, or even location. This will allow users to find channels that align with their interests more effectively and efficiently. According to the snapshot posted, there will be a convenient new feature that lets users easily search for specific channels. With this feature, they can simply enter the name of the channel they are looking for, and it will be instantly located.

To further enhance the search experience, users will also find three helpful filters to sort the results: “recently added,” “popularity,” and “alphabetically.” These filters will allow the audiene to quickly find the channels that were added recently, the most popular channels, or sort them in alphabetical order.

The addition of filters will not only benefit users but also content creators. It will provide them with an opportunity to reach a wider audience and attract more followers to their channels. By categorizing their channels and providing relevant information, creators can increase their visibility and connect with users who are genuinely interested in their content.

To use the feature, users will simply need to access the “Discover Channels” section within the app and apply the desired filters. The search results will then display the channels that meet the specified criteria, making it easier to browse and join those that catch their attention.

WhatsApp’s commitment to improving the user experience is evident in their continuous efforts to introduce new features. The ability to discover channels using filters will undoubtedly make the platform more engaging and dynamic. Users will have access to a wider range of content, while content creators will have an improved chance to showcase their work.

While an exact release date for this feature has not been announced and the pilot version for Android devices hasn’t been released yet either, WhatsApp audience can look forward to its availability in a future update.

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by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

John Mueller Just Handed Out Another Massive SEO Hint

Google’s John Mueller has been a fount of useful information for the SEO community for quite some time now. He has helped SEO professionals understand their field more accurately than might have been the case otherwise, along with providing tips that can come in handy if you are ever faced with a troublesome SEO situation that refuses to resolve itself despite your best efforts.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that the latest tip provided by Mueller has to do with top level domains (TLD). A user on Reddit asked Mueller whether it matters if their page is a .com, .site or any other type of domain. Mueller was quite clear in saying that .site domains might be cheap, but this also makes them fairly likely to be overrun with spam.

Hence, trying to save money on domains might lead to your site never getting indexed with all things having been considered and taken into account. It would be best to do some research because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up revealing with domains are spammy and which ones are clear, in that case Spamhaus might help.

This can have an enormous impact on your SEO potential, but in spite of the fact that this is the case, plenty of professionals working in this space still seem to be trying to create roadblocks for themselves by saving money on said domains. Domains that end with .com are not just a luxury. They also indicate that the domain itself will be relatively clean, thereby establishing it as a trustworthy source of information in the metaphorical eyes of Google’s web crawlers.

Picking the right kind of domain can be considered a crucial first step in getting started with SEO. Failing to do so could lead to your site not getting indexed, after which any and all SEO tactics that you deploy would very likely just end up going in vain. Mueller has once again pulled through for the SEO community by offering a tip that clears up a common source of confusion.

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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

The Power of Video Ads: 150 Million Viewers Tuned in to YouTube on TV Screens in the US

Netflix's advertisement titled "Wednesday" has taken the lead on Cannes Ads Leaderboard of 2023 of with an impressive 39 M views. This leaderboard showcases the most successful video ads from around the world since the previous festival from a year ago, emphasizing the effectiveness of video content in captivating and engaging audiences. YouTube has identified four key trends observed in the most popular video commercials: the use of music, authenticity, appeal across different age groups, and evoking emotions. These trends have been instrumental in propelling the top video ads to a cumulative total of over 214 M views.

The widespread popularity of the streaming service, YouTube around the U.S on television screens is undeniable, reaching up to approximately individual viewers of 150 M. This extensive viewership creates a lucrative opportunity for both content creators and advertisers. Video ads remain a powerful means to attract views and connect with their specific audiences by employing captivating storytelling techniques.

The analysis focuses on the top 10 most popular global video ads on YouTube, covering the period from June 2022 to May 2023. The rankings and corresponding view counts are provided for each ad as of the time of publishing. YouTube employs a combination of metrics, including paid and organic views, audience retention, and watch time, to determine the positions of these ads. This approach ensures a comprehensive assessment of viewer engagement and popularity for each advertisement on the platform.

Burger King's ad titled "Extended Whopper Whopper" secured the tenth spot on the list, accumulating a substantial number of views; nearly 9.3 M. Peacock's video advertisement, named "Kevin Hart's Relentless Banter on 'Old' Celebrities #shorts," closely followed views of 9.1 M. Bulgari's captivating ad, entitled "Unexpected Wonders: A Film by Paolo Sorrentino," also garnered 9.3 M views, showcasing the power of authenticity and genuine storytelling in advertising.

The ad titled "Crazy about Football: Orange Egypt's World Cup 2022 Campaign" attracted a considerable amount of attention from viewers, accumulating a significant 19 M views. Meanwhile, the "Official Introduction Film" of the Qatar Airways and Galaxy S23 Ultra' "C.H.A.M.P.I.O.N.S: Official FIFA World Cup Song featuring Cheb Khaled and DJ Rodge" both achieved an impressive 23 M views, showcasing the broad appeal of these advertisements across different generations.

"The Last of Us" video ad by Max accumulated an impressive 24 M views, highlighting the effectiveness of evoking emotions through storytelling. "Introducing iPhone 14 Pro" by Apple has closely followed with 26 M views, showcasing the high anticipation and intrigue surrounding the release of new products. Telecom Egypt's "WE Summer Campaign 2022 - Akram Hosny" achieved a remarkable 33 M views, indicating the triumph of captivating and immersive marketing campaigns.

Ultimately, "Wednesday Releases Thing In New York" by Netflix secured the top spot on YouTube's leaderboard, amassing a staggering 39 M views. This accomplishment highlights the streaming giant's ability to captivate audiences and generate buzz around its content.

YouTube's position as a leading streaming service underscores its profitability for content creators and advertisers. Brands and marketers can leverage the platform's vast audience reach to connect with their target demographics effectively. Creating compelling video ads that tell engaging stories and resonate with viewers is crucial in a highly competitive landscape.

In conclusion, the success of top-ranking video ads on YouTube's Cannes Ads Leaderboard 2023 highlights the power of captivating content. Brands can leverage video ads on YouTube to engage target audiences by incorporating music, authenticity, cross-generational appeal, and emotion. This underscores the importance of video ads in achieving marketing goals in the digital landscape.

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by Ayesha Hasnain via Digital Information World

Instagram is Experimenting With an AI Chatbot in DMs

If you want to know what the tech industry is obsessing over, you need only take a look at the features that they have started incorporating in the recent past. Meta tends to be front and center in this regard. The company has previously used Snapchat Stories as inspiration for a slew of new features across Facebook, Instagram and even WhatsApp. They tried to do the same with short form content after the rise of TikTok.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that AI chatbots seems to be the latest bandwagon that Meta is trying to jump on. Snapchat added a chatbot to its DMs not too long ago, so it was only a time before a platform that fell under Meta’s umbrella would try to follow suit.

Meta has been using generative AI to offer features such as helping users make better Facebook ad and creating visual prompts that can be used in the creation of Instagram stickers. In spite of the fact that this is the case, the company is going full speed ahead with yet another AI addition, this time in the form of an AI chatbot that can be located in the DMs section of Instagram.

This chatbot can be used to help draft better messages than might have been the case otherwise. It can also be a useful tool if you ever need to ask a question in the middle of a conversation because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up streamlining the dialogue. Users will just have to type in @ai in the typing box and they will be taken to the chatbot which will answer any and all questions that they might have.

It will be interesting to see what other AI related features Meta brings to the table. The company is notorious for jumping on every trend with all things having been considered and taken into account. It also manages to normalize features thanks to its enormous userbase and massive footprint across the world.

H/T: Alessandro Paluzzi

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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

Meta’s Oversight Board Puts Its Reviewed Cases On Display In Its Annual 2022 Report

The yearly report for Meta’s Oversight Board is out for the year 2022 and it’s safe to say that it’s got plenty of interesting pointers included.

The board put out a thorough overview of what users can expect in terms of case reviews and that entails some massive improvements across the tech giant’s systems. These are all the cases that it has intervened upon and assisted in terms of reaching a final decision.

Moreover, let’s not forget how it was for the sake of adding more transparency to the company’s actions so as to show how it was following its own rules set out for content moderation.

The Board is one that many called out as an experiment when it comes down to regulating content through social media. Similarly, it’s a clear reminder of how apps need to use the help of experts when taking on big decisions to ensure all of their rules are refined.

So when you actually come to think of it, the Oversight Board of Meta is a true success.

The board recently went on to mention a few statements that expanded between the likes of January 2021 to April 2023. This is where it made a staggering 191 recommendations for the firm. And about two-thirds of these had to do with the firm completely implementing them and putting out progress on the final result.

We saw in the year 2022 how encouraging it was to witness something like this and how the tech giant was making changes to the system and its regulations and how it was getting implemented.

This entailed Meta putting out changes to user alerts, making amendments to rules, and even recording all the progress it has made over time. It’s just refreshing for experts in the tech world to see how strongly Meta takes the board and how it does end up following its guidance to a great degree to ensure they’re working on the right track.

The news means saying hello to greater transparency from the firm as it enables the board to play a stronger role in making decisions and provides users with more understanding of why some posts were added or deleted.

In the recent past, we saw plenty of users guessing why the firm deleted content. Now, Facebook’s parent firm says they’re busy trying to ensure global users are well aware of why a certain decision was taken or which rule had been broken and what the consequences of such behavior would be.

Be it hate speech or content that revolves around the likes of bullying, harassment, and more- Meta will let its users know what they did wrong. Now, there are even more reports of how the tech giant will also inform people about human reviews that caused a certain post to be deleted.

This is a new form of transparency that Meta says it required and it’s glad to be offering it to all on its platform.

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Apple CEO Admits Using ChatGPT Personally While Expressing Interest In Its Unique Applications

Tim Cook recently sat down for an exclusive interview and that’s where he made some striking revelations that are now making headlines.

The CEO of Apple admitted to using the popular ChatGPT tool and also spoke about how exciting its overall applications were.

During the interview with ABC, Cook added that his firm utilizes a lot of AI in so many of its products. But not a lot of users are concerned or aware of that. They don’t call it out as AI, while similarly delineating how the leading iPhone maker is closely staring at ChatGPT for use in the company’s own system.

Remember, Tim Cook has previously spoken about how so many language models are now present that serve as massive AI tools powering chatbots such as ChatGPT and even Bard. They are all being called out for displaying massive promises but also have some great potential of being biased and putting misinformation on display in certain situations.

The CEO of Apple is also putting out some news about how the firm is setting out plenty of safeguards and even some guardrails for AI that’s not only leading but moving in a swift direction.

Cook adds that when you look at the way things are unfolding at this point in time, you’ll realize how firms need to make some strong and ethical considerations. Moderating behavior is not going to be easy, despite the great progress related to this as that’s how fast things are moving. This is why he feels it’s time firms started taking matters into their own hands and begin regulation.

Tim Cook's long list of comments arises at a time when AI continues to move at a fast pace, not to mention how huge of a fan following and powerful mark it has managed to create in the tech world in such a short span of time.

Tech giants and big names in the world of AI are concerned and have signed up letters to tell individuals that the risks are plenty and that a pause in training is required. On the other hand, a few critics claim that the threats are not as huge as they’re being projected and that’s causing nothing but fear and panic across the board.

Is there a real-life threat to humans and a possible human extinction on the rise, top AI researchers don’t think so. But on the contrary, the pioneers related to the field of AI do think it could occur. So as you can tell, the statements coming out right now are quite skeptical.

The conversation with Tim Cook comes just one day after we observed a notable keynote speech on the subject of technology by Apple’s CEO at the world-famous annual WWDC conference. This is where the Cupertino firm put a long list of new apps and products on display including the much anticipated mixed reality headset called Vision Pro.

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World