Use AI to Search, But Don’t Stop Thinking: The Risks of AI-Driven Convenience

How Apple’s New “Search the Way You Talk” Feature Highlights the Convenience and Risks of Natural Language Search

Apple recently unveiled a feature in its App Store inviting users to “search the way you talk.” It’s part of their broader embrace of natural language search, a tool designed to feel as intuitive as talking with a friend.

Need a new fitness app? Just type, “Apps that help me work out,” and let the algorithms do their thing. It’s meant to be easy and accessible. There is no need to strategically search keywords or guess what the search engine wants from you.

But here’s what I can’t help but worry about…

As search becomes more conversational, we may be unwittingly giving up something valuable. The ability to craft effective searches using precise keywords or logical operators might fade into obscurity, much like the once-essential skill of navigating a library. And while it’s easy to shrug off this shift as progress, it raises a critical question: what happens when the tech fails? When the internet’s down, the power’s out, or the AI model misunderstands your request, will we remember how to navigate the analog world?