Google Search is getting an upgrade to think more like you and me.
Called the Knowledge Graph, the new feature will now be able to understand whether certain search terms are people, places or things. It will then deliver results like you were asking an expert.
So for example, if you search for Leonardo da Vinci, the search engine knows he’s a person.
Facts like da Vinci’s birthday, where he lived and his accomplishments will show up on the right side of the page. The Knowledge Graph will also share his works and other commonly searched painters.
Google says it’s collected more than 3.5 billion facts about 500 million people, places and things so far.
A more generic search term like apple could offer up suggestions about the fruit and the technology company. These suggestions will also be delivered on the right side of the page.
"This used to be the stuff of dreams because we didn't really know how to accomplish it,'' said Amit Singhal, a Google fellow who has been studying search for 22 years. "The dream has always been to understand things like you and I do, so this this really feels like a sea change.''
Google began rolling out the smarter search Wednesday. Users who are logged in with their Google account when they perform a search should begin seeing the Knowledge Graph soon.
