Google Clarifies: Search Isn't Almost Done

I spoke to Google's Marissa Mayer at TechCrunch50 on Monday (a little after she we celebrated Google's 10th birthday with cupcakes) and asked her about the search is "90-95%" solved story over the weekend. She said she'd be posting a clarification on the Google blog. That clarification just went up, here. In the original article, published in the LA Times, Marissa says search is "90 to 95%" solved:

Search is an unsolved problem. We have a good 90 to 95% of the solution, but there is a lot to go in the remaining 10%. How do we monetize new forms of content as they come online such as video, maps and books. How do we help content providers transition their businesses online and build healthy businesses.

Today Marissa clarifies, suggesting that her real point is that the first 90% of the search problem is solved, but that was the easy part. The last 10% will actually be 90% of the real work, she says, and it will take decades or longer to complete it. She also compares search today to the fiields of biology and physics in the 1500s or 1600s.

Original post

Comments

[GoogleDoubter:]

This article sums up why Google will never be a great software company. Google is an ADVERTISING company. Millions of small and large businesses will never purchase mission critical business applications from an ADVERTISING company.

Google Apps, RIP!

2008 Sep 10 11:26 PM

[xcelsior:]

Some small businesses are already changing to web based platform in lieu of Google Docs. I don't know what your bias is, but Chrome is already one hell of a browser despite being in its beta stages. They are very much a software company.

2008 Sep 11 03:06 PM

[nyc.scorpion:]

the doubte dude is just that "doubting" everything and everybody with his airhead. No doubt he lacks some attention.

2008 Sep 11 05:38 PM