Bing's "New Era" Flops: Google Still King of the Search Engine World

Everyone has that "one" friend we all run whenever in doubt. Google has been our unsung friend and secret keeper. Do you want to arrange a birthday party for your nephew? Ask Google. Feeling low? Ask Google to tell you jokes. Need movie recommendations? Google is here. But what if Google has competition?

In a tale that could've been scripted by Shakespeare himself (if he were a tech enthusiast), the much-anticipated AI-powered Bing with Bing Chat burst onto the scene, promising to dethrone the search giant Google. Unfortunately, the story surprise is less "David slays Goliath," and more "Goliath chuckles at David's attempt."

Six months after its introduction, the new Bing appears to have fallen short of its ambitious aims. Microsoft, the brains behind this endeavor, is baffled and scratching its digital head. Despite the AI-powered bells and whistles, Bing's global and U.S. search market share has been as consistent as a cardboard cutout.

Let's look at the numbers when the curtain goes up. Bing's search market share in the United States hit 6.47% in July. Doesn't it seem reasonable? Not quite. It was only 6.35% when this shiny new Bing arrived in February. To add to the irony, it temporarily peaked at 6.61% in March.

But wait, there's more! Rewind to 2022, a year of glory for Bing, where its U.S. market share was doing the cha-cha well above 7%, even tangoing up to 7.82% in November. Yet here we are, scratching our heads and wondering where the grand entrance went wrong.

Bing's global search market share was 2.99% in July. Compared to a more relaxed period in January, Bing was at 3.03%. On the other hand, Bing was strutting its stuff above 3% with the confidence of a rockstar in 2022.

Microsoft, on the other hand, isn't ready to give up just yet. They're marching to the beat of a different drummer, and the tune is titled "We've Got Internal Data." According to a WSJ report, Microsoft disputed the "outside data" by arguing that these third-party data wizards aren't gathering all visitors to Bing's conversation page.

StatCounter responded, "Hold on, we've got traffic to and from Bing's chat covered." Meanwhile, SimilarWeb said, "Yeah, we might miss a Bing Chat interaction or two with that fancy Edge sidebar thingy, but who's really counting?"

As a Microsoft official, Yusuf Mehdi asserted boldly, "We're making strides, bigger strides than a centipede in a marathon." We're delighted with our progress!" But wait a minute; Bing had a market share of 17.9% a decade ago, which is a far cry from today's endeavor.

The six-month anniversary of Microsoft is a fascinating spectacle. Their blog post claims over a billion conversations, three-quarters of a billion images, and some growth for Edge that they are excited about. The PR wagon came, but the "celebration" didn't go well with everyone, including Search Engine Land.

SimilarWeb and comScore joined the party in a digital showdown with more data. The verdict? Bing might've put on some weight, but it's not enough for a heavyweight title. Bing has a 2% traffic share in the United States as of July, according to SimilarWeb, although comScore claims a 6% reduction in visitors and total visits from February to July. In July, the year-on-year comparison showed a 2% decrease.

In this unfolding tale of digital titans, it appears that Bing's attempt to rouse itself from its search engine slumber is met with a slow clap from the unmatched Google. The fight for the search engine throne continues, but Google maintains its lead. Will Bing rise to the occasion or fade away? Only time will tell, and perhaps another AI-powered business.

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by Rubah Usman via Digital Information World

Advertisers Hit Pause on X After Pro-Nazi Content Debacle

How would you feel if someone scratched your deepest yet chronicled wounds despite knowing the fact that it would hurt? Sounds cruel right? You will feel like someone deliberately played with your feelings. But why are we talking about all this? Well, you might not believe what's coming next!

In a plot twist worthy of a summer blockbuster, the social media realm known as X, formerly recognized as Twitter, has taken an unexpected tumble down the rabbit hole. Picture this: Advertisements from 19 different businesses, including Amazon, Adobe, and even the Atlanta Falcons, chose to interrupt a fairly unpleasant party. What kind of party, you ask? Oh, just a pro-Hitler soirée with a dash of fascism flair. Talk about badly misdirected invitations!

It all started when X's new CEO, Linda Yaccarino, spoke about the brand-safety fortress they'd built, reportedly as strong as a chocolate teapot. She stated that brands would be "protected from the risk of being next to" any potentially harmful material. Someone neglected to notify the advertisements because they ended up rubbing shoulders with some genuinely shady individuals, such as the one who shows up to a Halloween party without a costume.

Media Matters for America, playing the role of vigilant watchdog, blew the whistle on X's little charade. They revealed that ads were frolicking on a verified pro-Adolf Hitler account with a surprisingly robust fanbase (who knew?). The evidence? A collection of screenshots depicting the ad blunders. It comes out that X was bending the rules prohibiting aggressive speech. Someone forgot to follow the script.

Who are the protagonists of this story? NCTA and Gilead, two gutsy businesses, stepped up to the plate and paused their ad expenditure more quickly than a sprinting cheetah. Concerned that their future of broadband technology spiel would be overshadowed by Hitler hysteria, NCTA chose to go gracefully. "Brand safety is our jam," they announced, resolving to maintain a low profile in the X world for now.

So, what's the big lesson here? For one, even the mightiest of platforms can trip over their shoelaces (or, in X's case, their brand safety measures). It's like the Avengers suddenly getting tangled in their capes while trying to save the day.

But don't worry, dear reader; this story isn't over. We're left with a cliffhanger as X scrambles to clean up its mistake and keep its advertisers from fleeing. Will X eventually figure out how to hold a good party without attracting the local bad guys? Will NCTA and Gilead ever feel comfortable enough to leave their hiding places? Watch for the next exciting episode of "X Marks the Oops."

We've learned that brand safety isn't just about rules and safeguards in a world where tweets and advertisements intersect unexpectedly—it's about ensuring your ads don't mistakenly crash a party to which you'd never want an invitation. Until then, folks, keep your popcorn ready and your ad placements in check. And remember, even in the digital age, good old common sense saves the day.

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by Rubah Usman via Digital Information World

Instagram Is Working On A New Multi-Ad Format Display For Reels

It looks like Instagram Reels will no longer be ad-free as the tech giant is reported to be working on a new multi-ad format display.

Some users are already seeing the new feature pop up as one digital expert also highlighted how the format features several ads that group together similar brands into one screen. And that’s displayed among Reels content.

While such concepts are not very new or unique, it’s definitely a change. Moreover, we first saw the multi-ads format get launched last year in October and that also entailed side scrolls for similar ads that are linked to user engagement.

As may be witnessed through examples, after seeing a particular ad, the multi-advertiser promotion gets displayed right underneath the initial post and it gives several ads depending on what your preferences may be.

The main goal seems to be linked to assisting more individuals to explore and put other products in comparison from several businesses at the same time. Moreover, such advertising units are up for grabs for selective placement across apps like Facebook and Instagram. It also provides advertisers the chance to get known by those showing interest in a particular product or business or product.

You can also find this kind of advertiser on display across the app’s feed and rival app Facebook’s Stories. Hence, it’s a little shocking to witness Meta making the effort to add it into Reels too. But it’s worth a mention for all of those advertising that is going to say yes to such placements.

You never need to enable ads for display on such a format but the app wishes to extend it into Reels. Hence, in cases where you do end up saying yes by clicking on the box, this is exactly what you are going to pay for.

It’s going to be useful, providing low costs, bigger volume placements, and also a fabulous idea for those that are currently engaging with such similar content.

But at the same time, you could also see less exposure and decreased performance since you are going head-to-head with a number of rival brands across one frame.

As expected, every brand would witness a new kind of response. But if you do click yes to multi-ad placements, this might be how it would be displayed on the Reels feed.

For the time being, we’re asking tech giant Meta to give out more details regarding the latest test for such a display. Moreover, it would provide more details on certain rollouts. But we’ll keep you updated whenever any changes or news regarding this arises.

Read next: The Twists and Turns of X: From Likes to ID Verification to Timestamps
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Here’s Why The Threads App Fails To Capture Users’ Attention And Gain Real Momentum On Social Media?

Referring to Meta’s Threads app as an absolute disaster would be slightly unfair for obvious reasons. But that does not mean we can go as far as calling it a successful launch either.

It does not take a real rocket scientist to realize how the app is failing to hold on to its user base, with close to 80% of them already gone and more making plans for an exit soon. The truth is that it failed miserably in terms of attaining the right kind of speed in the world of social media.

Moreover, one report went as far as suggesting how the figure for active users on the app continues to drop every month. Today, there are just 11 million individuals who stand by X’s clone.

The figure for users who are using the app was calculated based on stats linked to usage trends. It’s definitely very reliable and a sheer indicator of how many people are interested.

The data failed to entail users on iOS or those getting web access and that’s linked to the fact that you can’t access the app via a browser right now. Furthermore, a new update on the platform ended up offering several small additions including the chance to share Threads across Instagram DMs and another means to tag another person inside a post.

Mark Zuckerberg claims he’s not in a rush at all in terms of launching any big upgrades on the app. Moreover, he knows that nothing happens overnight and to create the right and loyal community of fans means staying patient along the way. He further stated that search features for Threads will arrive soon and we will soon have our hands on the web version of the Threads app.

But whether the Meta CEO realizes this or not, one thing is for sure. There seems to be something missing. This is the perfect time to entice Twitter users from walking away from X and resorting to Threads.

It would be wise for Meta’s CEO and team of executives to put out innovative features including those related to sharing videos and video chats. Now the question is if the platform will be able to survive when you’re getting instructions from a man who struggles when it comes to giving instructions for a firm that has been in existence for 20 years or so.

See, Threads is so much like Twitter that when you come to think of it, we do not see the purpose of creating any following on social media. Moreover, any post generated appears to be useless when you’ve got a platform that’s so established.

Just the amount of work required to keep users connected across the board is not easy. Some posts end up being duplicated from a series of other feeds. But when you just come to think of it, the real reason why this app seems to be dying is because it’s just not useful.

Sit down and think about what’s on the platform that makes you want to go back. For that, there needs to be innovation and things that are useful. You need real work to be done so you can connect with others. And when you’re dealing with a world that’s surrounded by plenty of distractions, you need to work harder to stand out.

Things done on a device end up being just a millimeter away from other kinds of distractions. Hence, it’s difficult to remain invested in things that don’t capture our attention or give any kind of value. The app is the new kid on this block but that phase is over.

Read next: Here’s How Business Owners Feel About Threads
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

YouTube Is Making Some Exciting Changes For Creators And Here’s What You Can Expect

YouTube is known for being ahead of the game in the tech world, listening to users’ feedback, and actually going the extra mile to bring changes to the masses.

This week is no exception as the app is working on some more exciting features worth a glance. For starters, the app is doing its best to initiate its comment filters on Studio. So the platform says it’s testing some of the similar filters in the comments section for its creator community on the main app.

This is designed to assist creators to find and respond to comments on the app which may have been a difficult task to engage in the past. For now, the test is limited to a few individuals but if you happen to be a part of the experiment, you’ll see a small number of filters arise when watching your own videos on the main app. They will usually pop at the top of the comments feed, near the existing options such as top comments.

The feature is designed to help creators generate a response to comments that they may have missed or are yet to respond to. Similarly, comments arising from any members or public subscribers would also be a part of the list as also the Super Thanks comments.

The new filters are only visible to the creator’s video and can’t be seen by viewers. Therefore, the app is now asking the masses what they think about the endeavor and is requested to provide feedback relating to it as well.

Last but not least, as you might already be aware, the app only accepts HEVC and that protocol leads to the uploading of videos with higher resolution. Now, the app is excited to announce that most creators will be given the chance to stream higher quality AV1 videos having lower bitrates and that would translate to better-watching experiences for users on the app.

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

AI's Political Leanings: Is ChatGPT a Closet Leftie?

Ladies and gentlemen hold onto your keyboards because it seems the AI world has been hit by a political whirlwind! New research from the University of East Anglia (UEA) has revealed ChatGPT's political inclinations, and let's just say that these artificial smarty-pants may tilt left.

ChatGPT, you know, the talkative digital pal we all resort to for answers? It turns out that this virtual friend is covertly sporting a blue jersey. The UEA research team and some bright Brazilians decided to examine ChatGPT to see whether it had any political tricks under its algorithmic sleeve.

Published in the super-serious-sounding journal Public Choice, this study waved a red flag about ChatGPT's tendency to root for the Democrats in the US, the Labour Party in the UK (cue a Churchillian eye-roll), and even gave a virtual high-five to President Lula da Silva's Workers' Party down in Brazil. Like, come on, ChatGPT, could you be more predictable?

Dr. Fabio Motoki, the lead researcher, who sounds like a character from a science fiction film, established the AI law: "Hey, ChatGPT, keep it impartial, buddy!" Because when AI begins to favor certain people, it isn't just a joke; it may influence how we think and vote. Isn't it terrifying? Almost as bad as the time the dog followed its tail around the room for an hour. What a case of getting trapped in a rut!

The researchers behind this study have devised a brilliant game plan. They bombarded ChatGPT with queries, instructing it to role-play as people from all political parties. It's like telling your pet cat to act like a dog – good luck! They then compared these virtual personalities with ChatGPT's default responses to see if it was showing its true colors.

But hold on, there's more! To combat the unpredictability of AI's responses, they posed each question 100 times. It's as if a hundred different chefs are preparing the same dish. They also performed a 'bootstrap,' which sounds like AI's equivalent of hopping on one leg while singing the national song, but it means they re-sampled the data a thousand times to be sure.

The researchers ran ChatGPT through a political sandbox as if that weren't enough. They made it replicate radical political views, similar to forcing a penguin to emulate flamingo dance routines. They even tossed in some neutral questions to see if ChatGPT's political bias was like a fingerprint that couldn't be wiped off.

But don't worry, dear reader! These genius scientists didn't just point fingers at ChatGPT; they also gave it a pat on the back. They created a nifty tool that anyone, even your tech-challenged grandma, can use to peek under ChatGPT's hood and check for biases. It's like a digital detective kit for the AI world.

So, what is it about left-wing beliefs that appeal to ChatGPT? There are a handful of theories. One possibility is that it has something to do with its training data, which is akin to ChatGPT's grandmother slyly adding more sugar to the cookies. Or two, perhaps ChatGPT is just a naughty algorithm stirring up problems like a pixie.

In a word, the research is similar to a superhero film; instead of capes and villains, it has brilliant people and computers. It's as if a slew of Sherlock Holmeses are attempting to unravel the puzzle of ChatGPT's political party membership. But at the end of the day, whether ChatGPT leans left, right, or just wants to dance the cha-cha, we now have the tools to keep it honest. And that, folks, is a story worth typing about!

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by Rubah Usman via Digital Information World

YouTube and Pals vs. Privacy Paranoia: A Digital Drama Unfolds

Gather 'round, everyone, for a tech story as juicy as a suspense thriller! Google, Cartoon Network, and Hasbro are in a court battle over your children's privacy when they binge-watch cartoons on YouTube. It's a battle of Titans but with less armor and more digital fingerprints.

These vast names are battling tooth and nail to throw out a lawsuit alleging they spied on kids' YouTube behaviors to offer up those oh-so-persuasive tailored adverts in a legal dance that would make even the wackiest TikTok trends envious. But here's the catch: they're not simply saying, "Oops, our bad," they're claiming that even if they did play Peeping Tom, it wasn't as horrible as it seems.

Google, that digital deity that knows what you ate for breakfast before you even do, is leading the charge. They're boldly stating that collecting your web habits is like brushing your teeth – routine stuff, folks! They're throwing shade at the claim that they caused a "highly offensive" privacy violation. Based on your search history, they don't appear to be sending anyone surprise birthday cake deliveries. What a pleasant surprise!

Consider the following: "Hold up, we didn't conspire with Google to play digital spy games," Cartoon Network, Hasbro, and friends are claiming from their virtual recliners. They're dismissing the charges, claiming that even if they're caught, it'll be like receiving a parking ticket - not a horrific crime.

But wait, rewind a bit. This digital drama isn't just fresh off the press. It's been brewing since 2019 when a California mom, let's call her Nicole, said, "Hold my virtual popcorn!" She sued YouTube and its cartoon associates, alleging they spied on her youngster, who was happily engrossed in Ryan ToysReview and My Little Pony. What does childhood happiness scream if not that?

Keep your emojis handy, for the narrative intensifies. This isn't Nicole's one-woman act, you see. Other parents joined on board, claiming these digital wizards were breaking state laws by spying on their children's online playground activities. They then dropped the significant "intrusion upon seclusion" bomb, which is legalese, meaning peering through someone else's curtains without permission.

Now put the icing on the cake: remember when Google was fined $170 million for allegedly violating children's internet privacy rules? Yes, it did occur. "Hey, if they paid up, why shouldn't the others?" said these parents. It's the judicial equivalent of "everybody's doing it!"

But the story twists never stop! The legal story already went to court and was rebuffed by Judge Beth Labson Freeman, only to return thanks to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. It's similar to a legal tennis match in which the ball continues rebounding back.

So, dear readers, there you have it. The war between digital titans, parental protectors, and virtual baddies continues. Will YouTube, Hasbro, and their digital gang escape unhurt, or will their digital tails be tucked between their legs? Only time will tell in this pixelated drama of privacy, power, and pixel-peeping. Keep an eye out because the digital drama is far from done!

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by Rubah Usman via Digital Information World