AI Mode can gather information from many webpages and combine it into a useful answer. But what happens when it moves beyond summarising those sources and begins diagnosing a problem, ranking possible causes or deciding what someone should do first? That question matters to hobby website builders. If AI can answer every hobby question by … Read more
I recently needed to have a double-bed mattress topper washed. It was too large for my domestic washing machine, so I searched online for a nearby launderette. I found one reasonably close to me and visited its website. At first, everything looked promising. The website said the launderette was open from 8am until 8pm, seven … Read more
Google AI Mode can do something traditional search results could not do nearly as well. It can take a complicated real-world problem, break it into smaller questions, gather information from several sources and assemble the pieces into what appears to be one complete solution. That is the clever part. But a series of experiments on … Read more
In an earlier experiment, Google AI Mode recommended a true-crime book as a birthday present, identified nearby Birmingham bookshops and confidently suggested that I could collect the perfect book. The problem was that it had not confirmed whether any recommended title was actually in stock. That raised a broader question: Was AI Mode mainly struggling … Read more
Google AI Mode can do far more than answer a simple factual question. It can interpret preferences, search across different topics, combine local information and present what appears to be a complete solution. But does it always verify the final detail that makes the solution usable? I ran a simple test involving a birthday present … Read more
I began with a simple question about very specific searches. If someone gives Google AI Mode an unusually detailed problem, will it find and cite a webpage that closely matches the whole situation? For example, imagine someone standing at Glasgow Central Station on a Saturday afternoon. They have a fresh chocolate stain on a cotton … Read more
Many searches are no longer simple questions with single answers. Someone planning a trip may need information about transport, accommodation, journey times, costs and activities. Their personal circumstances introduce further questions. A trip with a dog creates different information needs from a trip with young children. Travelling with an older relative who has limited mobility … Read more
There are two separate jobs involved in creating a useful piece of online content: You need both. But they are not the same thing. This distinction matters because many website owners spend most of their time on value communication while doing very little value creation. They add headings, summary boxes, tables, FAQs, images, schema markup … Read more
If you are going to write about something you have done, tested or investigated, do not wait until the writing stage to think about evidence. By then, some of the most useful proof may already have disappeared. The dirty sink has been cleaned. The garden hole has been filled. The error message has vanished. The … Read more
Almost every broad topic you might write about has already been covered online. Search for advice about choosing a telescope, growing vegetables, improving at chess or starting a website and you will find thousands of pages. Add videos, forums, books, social posts and AI-generated answers, and the amount of existing information becomes overwhelming. That can … Read more