Introduction to Novel Search Queries

Google’s John Mueller recently discussed the surprising statistic that 15% of search queries the search engine sees are completely new and have never been encountered before. This raises interesting questions about how people use search engines and how AI is impacting the way we search.

Understanding Language and Search Queries

To serve relevant search results, Google needs to understand the nuances of language and what people mean when they search. This includes understanding unconventional use of specific words or complete misuse of words. Google uses technologies like BERT to understand user queries and provide relevant results. BERT is a powerful tool that helps Google comprehend the context of words in a search query, allowing users to search in a way that feels natural.

According to Google, "We see billions of searches every day, and 15 percent of those queries are ones we haven’t seen before–so we’ve built ways to return results for queries we can’t anticipate." This means that Google is constantly learning and adapting to new search queries, providing users with relevant results even when they use unique or unconventional language.

The Prevalence of New Search Queries

John Mueller discussed the statistic of new queries Google search sees and if Large Language Models (LLMs) have made any impact. He noted that 15% of all queries are new every day, which is a surprising statistic. Mueller expected that as people became more familiar with search engines, the number of new queries would decrease, but this has not been the case.

Mueller attributed the consistent 15% number to the fact that life is not static and things are always changing. He also speculated that the number remains the same because people continue to use search engines to look for new information and answers to unique questions. This is a positive sign, as it indicates that people are still finding value in search engines and are using them to explore new topics and ideas.

The Impact of AI on Search Queries

The advent of AI and LLMs has not significantly impacted the number of new search queries. Despite the ability to search visually and use more complex search terms, the 15% number remains steady. This is a curious outcome, as one might expect that AI would lead to more complex and unique search queries. However, it’s possible that AI is simply allowing people to ask more nuanced questions, rather than entirely new ones.

Conclusion

The fact that 15% of search queries are new every day is a remarkable statistic. It highlights the complexity and diversity of human language and the importance of continued innovation in search technology. As AI and LLMs continue to evolve, it will be interesting to see if the number of new search queries changes. For now, the steady 15% number is a testament to the power of human curiosity and the importance of search engines in our daily lives.