Tech: Do Google searches w/o AI 'results' on page

Subject: Tech: Do Google searches w/o AI 'results' on page
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Jun 24 - 04:27 PM

I hate the Artificial Intelligence generated nonsense that is plastered on the top of most Google search results these days. I'd say they're present about 2/3 of the time now (some searches are so specific they seem to skip the AI part).

A while back there was an article about avoiding it by doing some programing that I didn't want to fool with, but today I found a much simpler answer.

When you do your search and click enter, then go to the end of the URL generated by Google and paste in "&udm=14" (no quotes).

By the time you've scrolled sideways and pasted you could already have scrolled past the AI bit, so it's a toss up. For a purist who just doesn't want to see that crap, this is your way to avoid it. There's also a website at https://udm14.com/ that is basically the same thing (looks open source). Click to that website then search. I did a search there, repeating one in regular Google, and I see the "udm=14&q" at the front of the string. I just entered that udm=14&q sequence into the first search at the beginning after the search? part and it again eliminated the AI stuff.

This information is offered by PCMag, which also gives this tidbit:

Google has a new search filter called Web, which essentially returns you to traditional search results. If AI snippets are annoying, get rid of them by clicking the Web filter underneath the search bar. If it isn't visible, click the More button and select it from the menu that appears.

Subject: RE: Tech: Do Google searches w/o AI 'results' on page
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 27 Jun 24 - 09:51 PM

Dear SRS,

You have raised my "consciousness" ... but up until your immediate post ... I have not been aware of any AI, outside of the little intrusive "paper clip" thirty years ago.

Where might I find and engage with the AI you are reffing to? Is is free or fee?

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

. Being "antique tech" I seem to miss out on the new-good-stuff.

Subject: RE: Tech: Do Google searches w/o AI 'results' on page
From: GUEST,Rossey
Date: 28 Jun 24 - 01:43 AM

AI is spouting rubbish about songs, and their origins. One reason why we should be careful about correct attribution on this site, is that what is said here adds to the mix and gets picked up as fact by AI and sometimes used as a pop up reference. Same with the crud that is being spouted by Spotify etc.. 'Song and lyrics by.. fill in artist - even if they had nothing to do with the writing of the said song.

Subject: RE: Tech: Do Google searches w/o AI 'results' on page
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jun 24 - 09:11 AM

Garg, assuming you are using a computer with a browser, if you do a Google search on said browser, look at the results at the top of the page. The ones you can't turn off (unless you use code to do it). They're composed with Google's Artificial Intelligence program and the result is telling you gawd knows what, you have to scroll down for your actual results.

Subject: RE: Tech: Do Google searches w/o AI 'results' on page
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 28 Jun 24 - 10:22 PM

My primary browser is currently, "Duck Duck Go."

I switch to Google for maps ... and yahoo for economics.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

They are all "tools" ... a "monkey wrench" is perfect ... unless a socket wrench is better.

Subject: RE: Tech: Do Google searches w/o AI 'results' on page
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jun 24 - 10:26 PM

Duck Duck Go won't have the same nonsense. Good move. I've tried it, but it seems to get in the way of what I'm looking for, but I should give it another try.

Subject: RE: Tech: Do Google searches w/o AI 'results' on page
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jun 24 - 08:32 AM

I think Duck Duck Go uses Bing, not Google. It did do a while ago anyway.

Subject: RE: Tech: Do Google searches w/o AI 'results' on page
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jun 24 - 09:45 AM

Startpage is my default search engine. I believe it uses Google but I haven't seen AI generated stuff on top. It also sells itself as respecting your privacy.

Subject: RE: Tech: Do Google searches w/o AI 'results' on page
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Jun 24 - 09:48 AM

I used Metacrawler back in the early days of search engines, and it is still around in name, but I don't know if it does it's meta-combining thing now.

https://www.metacrawler.com/

Subject: RE: Tech: Do Google searches w/o AI 'results' on page
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 29 Jun 24 - 11:36 AM

I add the link, following my earlier post:

https://www.startpage.com/


'The world's most private search engine no tracking no digital footptint' according to their blurb.

I get good results using it and have not used Google for years. YMMV, obviously.

Subject: RE: Tech: Do Google searches w/o AI 'results' on page
From: GUEST,Rossey
Date: 29 Jun 24 - 08:19 PM

I've just noticed a new AI thing that Google is doing, and it's creeping me out.   It's now keeping track and saying above certain search results "You visit often". I feel like a stalker, and also I don't need to know that I have visited the page a few times, plus it's tracking the visits and using the information. AI is getting too big for its own boots.

Subject: RE: Tech: Do Google searches w/o AI 'results' on page
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 29 Jun 24 - 08:32 PM

There are a solid six engines around...

EACH has one thing it is better at ... than others.

SRS - In today's world you become your own "meta-crawler."

DUMP YOUR COOKIES! - End of every logg-out.
Remember, in the "good ol'days" when you ALAWAYS "parked your hard drive - before shutting down?"
TODAY - "dump you cookies"
Remember "TSR" - "terminate stay resident", " becane/radar" , "ET phone home, " they all stiil exist...but in a more refined form.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle
You can never be too paranoid ...Max is watching.

Subject: RE: Tech: Do Google searches w/o AI 'results' on page
From: cnd
Date: 01 Jul 24 - 08:59 PM

I'll keep it around for its wildly useless yet entertaining responses. Buying for a 4th of July cookout and wanted to make sure my recollection was right, so I googled "how many people does a pork butt feed"? Response:

"A pork butt can feed between 1-1,000 people, depending on the portion size..."

Really narrowed it down, haven't we? AI really is improving our lives hahaha

Subject: RE: Tech: Do Google searches w/o AI 'results' on page
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Jul 24 - 10:48 PM

Hahahaha! Helpful, wasn't it? NOT.

I've seen some stupid answers but haven't bothered to share them (AI would just come across them later and turn those into part of and even stupider answer to what someone else would ask).

Subject: RE: Tech: Do Google searches w/o AI 'results' on page
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 02 Jul 24 - 11:14 PM

ALWAYS

DUMP YOUR COOKIES

Sincerely,
Gargoyle
Bored clones follow the petty bones you leave in your wake.

Subject: RE: Tech: Do Google searches w/o AI 'results' on page
From: leeneia
Date: 03 Jul 24 - 12:17 PM

I've been trying this. I searched "on top of old smokey" origins, and Google returned two responses marked AI. They were not composed by AI, however, they were copied from a site called American Songwriter.

However, I don't want AI, so I tried searching for this:

No AI "on top of old smokey" origins

and the AI responses were gone. (Typing No AI at the end of the query didn't work.)

This was just one trial, but it's easy to remember and may prove reliable.

Subject: RE: Tech: Do Google searches w/o AI 'results' on page
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 03 Jul 24 - 06:22 PM

I've never seen AI results, maybe I have some kind of protection, she sez. vaguely.

But 'm wondering if my local Council Library catalogue is using AI on a search.

Last night I entered the exact title of a book (which I will pick up this morning) & received 14 other results that did not refer in any way to that title.

It's fiction & suggestions include more (uninteresting) fiction, childrens books, a book about WW2, a cook book, a book about Ancient Egypt ...

I've found the common element!! All titles either started with A (something or other) or the letter A (Alice)

Surely there are more than 15 books in a library system with 11 branches that start with A????? I took photos & will Ask a Librarian.

sandra (retired librarian)

Subject: RE: Tech: Do Google searches w/o AI 'results' on page
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 04 Jul 24 - 03:32 AM

Well done, Sandra. I hereby award you the Artificial Incompetence Counterexample Spotter's Award for today, for the most gloriously egregious demonstration that Artificial Intelligence isn't.

Subject: RE: Tech: Do Google searches w/o AI 'results' on page
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 04 Jul 24 - 06:43 AM

I shall wear my award with pride!

Unfortunately I didn't have time to Ask a Librarian but will do so next visit.

Subject: RE: Tech: Do Google searches w/o AI 'results' on page
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Jul 24 - 10:41 AM

That is a wonderful award to work for! Print it out and magnet it to your fridge, Sandra!

The results seem to be everywhere these days, plus all of the five-legged dogs art in "inspirational" photos people share without looking at the art to see in fact that the dog has five legs or two tails.

Subject: RE: Tech: Do Google searches w/o AI 'results' on page
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 04 Jul 24 - 11:09 AM

I've just done a search on the catalogue of another Library where I'm a member & got similar results - the title I searched for & 13 other unrelated titles - but they don't start with the same letter - how odd!

But one does include one of the words in the title I was looking for

Another Of Life's Little Mysteries!

Subject: RE: Tech: Do Google searches w/o AI 'results' on page
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 25 Aug 24 - 05:53 AM

What is 'model collapse'? An expert explains the rumours about an impending AI doom By Aaron J. Snoswell

Artificial intelligence (AI) prophets and newsmongers are forecasting the end of the generative AI hype, with talk of an impending catastrophic "model collapse".

But how realistic are these predictions? And what is model collapse anyway?

Discussed in 2023, but popularised more recently, "model collapse" refers to a hypothetical scenario where future AI systems get progressively dumber due to the increase of AI-generated data on the internet ...

... In 2023, researchers started wondering if they could get away with only relying on AI-created data for training, instead of human-generated data ...

... However, researchers found that without high-quality human data, AI systems trained on AI-made data get dumber and dumber as each model learns from the previous one. It's like a digital version of the problem of inbreeding (read on)


Aaron J. Snoswell is a Research Fellow in AI Accountability at Queensland University of Technology. This piece first appeared on The Conversation.

Subject: RE: Tech: Do Google searches w/o AI 'results' on page
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Aug 24 - 11:47 AM

I find the Google AI results to be obnoxious and skip past them once I realize the AI graphic sparkle is appearing, but more often than not use the https://udm14.com/ website. The problem with that is that you can't see what you're typing in once your typed text reaches their "AI-Free Search" button. You can keep typing, it's just not in view.

The other tip I just looked at again is to click on the "web" tab on the results page (I see All Images Forums Videos Shopping News Web ... More). That does work, though I'll have to click back and forth to see what it knocks out of the results.

Subject: RE: Tech: Do Google searches w/o AI 'results' on page
From: leeneia
Date: 28 Aug 24 - 06:11 PM

I just searched "what causes bunions no AI", and it worked.
=============
Yesterday I searched for the explanation of the volcanic eruption in Kamchatka, and AI told me that the North American plate is subducting under Russia. Gee, even though a major continent is in the way?

Subject: RE: Tech: Do Google searches w/o AI 'results' on page
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 29 Aug 24 - 08:13 AM

This is the (*akkh* *phht*) technology that the English govt is going to throw four million quid at to help teachers mark homework? From The Register this morning:

Brit teachers are getting AI sidekicks to help with marking and lesson plans
Subhead: Isn't the education system in enough trouble already?

Read for full horror story, including how three separate LLMs failed to correctly state how many letter Rs there are in "raspberry", presumedly from having been primed with too many jokes (garbage in, gospel out). Methinks HM Govt should do their homework.

Subject: RE: Tech: Do Google searches w/o AI 'results' on page
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Sep 24 - 01:16 AM

Then there is this:

The Bands and the Fans Were Fake. The $10 Million Was Real.
Federal prosecutors charged a North Carolina musician with gaming the system to win royalties from streaming services including Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.

A North Carolina man used artificial intelligence to create hundreds of thousands of fake songs by fake bands, then put them on streaming services where they were enjoyed by an audience of fake listeners, prosecutors said.

Penny by penny, he collected a very real $10 million, they said when they charged him with fraud.

The man, Michael Smith, 52, was accused in a federal indictment unsealed on Wednesday of stealing royalty payments from digital streaming platforms for seven years. Mr. Smith, a flesh-and-blood musician, produced A.I.-generated music and played it billions of times using bots he had programmed, according to the indictment.

And further down the article:

His scheme involved a circular process, they said. First, Mr. Smith created thousands of fake streaming accounts using email addresses he had purchased online. He had as many as 10,000, even outsourcing the task to paid co-conspirators when creating the accounts became too much work.

He then created software to stream his music on loops from different computers, giving the appearance of individual listeners tuning in from different places, prosecutors said.

According to a financial breakdown that he emailed himself in 2017 — the year that prosecutors say he began the scheme — Mr. Smith calculated that he could stream his songs 661,440 times each day. At that rate, he estimated, he could bring in daily royalty payments of $3,307.20 and as much as $1.2 million in a year.

To evade detection by streaming platforms, prosecutors said, Mr. Smith spread his activity across a huge number of fake songs, never streaming a single composition too many times.

Subject: RE: Tech: Do Google searches w/o AI 'results' on page
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Sep 24 - 01:17 PM

AI search results often include images, and a couple of articles crossed my desktop today that spell out how some of that happens.

From Boing Boing: Facebook is paying people to make the AI slop that infests it

Churning it out is full-time work, not well-paid but enough to live on in the developing world, which guarantees an explosive secondary market of get-rich-quick grifters and tutorialists. Most of the traffic is from the U.S., all the same—presumably the people crudely derided as "boomers" who either don't know what they're looking at or are so immersed in the online shit vortex that they will never know anything again.

From 404: Where Facebook's AI Slop Comes From

Scrolling down a bit:

He scrolls through the page, titled “Anita Kumari,” which has 112,000 followers and almost exclusively posts images of emaciated, AI-generated people, natural disasters, and starving children. He pauses on another image of a man being eaten by bugs. “They are getting so many likes,” he says. “They got 700 likes within 2-4 hours. They must have earned $100 from just this one photo. Facebook now pays you $100 for 1,000 likes … you must be wondering where you can get these images from. Don’t worry. I’ll show you how to create images with the help of AI.”

The second article is a members-only story where you can see a couple of paragraphs before the paywall message. However, I use a Chrome browser extension called JustRead that opens a screen minus the ads, photos, and other clutter on the page. It can quite often show you the entire article, as it did with this one.

Subject: RE: Tech: Do Google searches w/o AI 'results' on page
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 13 Sep 24 - 07:46 PM

Artificial intelligence is flooding the internet with fake images, video and audio. Can you tell real from fake?

How to spot fake and AI images. Every time you pick up your phone, you have to decide what’s real and what’s fake. Here are some tips to help you spot the difference.