In short, they are the same. AI or LLM tools like ChatGPT, Claude, DeepSeek and Perplexity (which is just a wrapper of an LLM tool) aren’t actual search engines – they are just answer systems that synthesize results given to them via traditional search engines like Google.
This has been confirmed by a number of sources, including SearchAPI and also this insightful interview with Elizabeth Reid – Head of Search at Google.
What are AI Search Tools?
AI Search tools are LLM-based tools that give synthesized answers to questions unlike “traditional search engines” which give a list of websites with answer.
What is an LLM?
An LLM, or a Large-Language Model is an advanced form of artificial intelligence (AI) designed to understand, process, and generate human-like text at a massive scale.
Built on sophisticated deep learning techniques, primarily the Transformer architecture, LLMs are trained on enormous datasets of text and code (billions to trillions of words). This extensive training allows them to learn the statistical relationships and complex patterns of language. Fundamentally, an LLM works as a powerful word-prediction engine, generating coherent and contextually relevant responses one token at a time.
LLMs, while also simply called “AI” are not true search engines like Google.
Who is Elizabeth Reid, Google Search?
Eliazbeth – or simply, Liz Reid is the Head of Search at Google, where she has worked for over 20 years, after being promoted from VP of Search. Elizabeth Reid (often referred to as Liz Reid) is the **Vice President and Head of Search** at Google.\
Here’s what we know:
- She leads the Search organization at Google and is focused on reimagining the search experience, particularly by integrating generative AI and features like Lens and multi-search.
- She joined Google in 2003 as the company’s first female engineer in its New York office.
- She was part of the team that built Google Local, which became the foundation for much of the local information within Google Maps.
- She is a passionate advocate of Google’s diversity efforts, serving as co-chair of Women@Google.
Interview with Liz Reid, Head of Search at Google
Stunning insight into the Future of Search with Elizabeth Reid, Google’s Head of Search….. arguably one of the most important roles in the Google organization and probably on the web at the moment. Not only is it a deep and rare glimpse into the inner sanctum of Google Search – its a rare oddity of genuinely honest take-aways about how Google powers AI “search” – showing that LLMs, which wield a lot of power when it comes to editing content – are not search engines and that its not feasible to think that they are. This quickly admonishes the “visionary” marketing narrative painted by GEO and other “AI” enthusiasts…..
Some crucial take aways:
📌 Blue links aren’t going anywhere
📌 LLMs are not displacing Search Engines, they’re relying on them
📌”And so we don’t view AI as replacing search in the search experience. We view it as augmenting as enabling us to reinvent search.”
https://www.seroundtable.com/liz-reid-google-interview-40198.html
Hat Tip to Gagan Ghotra for sharing this.
